Tribute

In the last 3 years or so, I have lost 3 of my 4 grandparents. Since I moved to Pittsburgh, I haven’t seen them very often and sometimes I feel a little regret that I didn’t see them more. I wanted to write down some memories I have of them. I do really miss them, and, although I know they’re in a better place, I don’t want to forget my memories.

Grandma R (born 1918, passed away March 14, 2009)

-Grandma and I used to play piano duets, especially Scott Joplin rags. I always played the melody and she played the boom chuck on the bottom.
-Grandma would send me peanut butter rice krispie treats in the mail at college and after I moved to Pittsburgh. She knew I loved them.
-I used to help clean the antique dishes that were on top of the cupboards in the kitchen. I would climb on the counters and get them down. Grandma would tell me what they were from (and which ones were Grandpa’s favorites) as she washed them, and I would dry them and then arrange them differently over the cupboards. I have one of the vases that was up there. She gave it to me when they moved out of the house into an apartment.
-The women/girls of the family went to an annual Mother’s Day banquet. We ate on a tea set every year and I have that tea set now.
-Grandma made me angel food cake with my favorite frosting ever. I think it was difficult to make but she knew I loved it so she made a point to make that frosting if the cake was for me.
-We used to play games together. Scrabble, dominoes, things like that.

Grandpa R (born 1914, passed away late September 22, 2008)

-Grandpa used to take his false teeth out just to gross me out. I still shudder.
-I remember when he played the saw and all his other weird instruments.
-In his basement, he had a little workshop. He used to poke holes in my belts because I was too skinny for them and that way they would fit.
-When I would spend the night, he would make scrambled eggs. Dad’s were much better, but I smothered Grandpa’s in ketchup and ate them anyways.
-Every evening he watched the same news stories and shows and I can still picture him falling asleep in his chair with his mouth open.
-With Grandma, we would go visit the cemeteries on Memorial Day to water flowers, etc. One year they put their own headstone in. Being the kid I was, I had a camera and told Grandpa to pose next to his future headstone. He laughed and said sure. Grandma said it was morbid but he thought it was funny.

Grandpa T (born 1929(?), passed away February 24, 2006)
Video tribute: http://videos.yourtribute.com/viewtribute.asp?fh=HaugheyFH&mv=Thurkins.html
-I struggled (and still do) with improvising in jazz band (and now our worship band). Grandpa tried to help me. He played saxophone and I played his little keyboard. He would play to demonstrate what he would do to improvise and I would try myself. He never put me down, always encouraged me.
-Being from Pittsburgh, he always rooted for the Steelers and Pirates, and is a big part of the reason I am part of the Steeler Nation. And a big part of the reason I ended up in the Pittsburgh area.
-On my 16th birthday, he embarrassed me by asking in front of everyone if I had been kissed yet. (The answer was no and I don’t think I ever did admit it out loud.)
-We spent all our holidays with Grandma and Grandpa because they lived across the street. Grandpa used to hide Easter Eggs for all the grandkids. He would also give out chocolate bunnies as “prizes” and came up with a reason for each of us to get our “prize”.
-Grandma and Grandpa owned a bed and breakfast. We used to run over there for breakfast some mornings on the weekends.

I have many more memories and I will never forget my grandparents. They have also instilled ethics and a musical background and made me the person I am today.