Grandfather

• Grandfather always seemed tall to me, even when I grew up.
• He had nicknames for all of us. I was Squeezable Emily.
• He laughed easily.
• He had the lightest blue eyes of anyone I have ever known.
• He loved children’s books and some of my favorites are ones he gave my family. The Blue Faience Hippopotamus and The Weaving of a Dream.
• When Grandmother would play the piano, he always would pause and listen with a smile on his face.
• He believed grandchildren should have M&Ms and always kept a dish of them. At Christmas we would hunt through the candy dishes to find the Christmas mints he put out.
• He liked rearranging the furniture.
• He loved planting flowers.
• His brothers used to tease him about being EMA (Emma) so when his mother gave him a signet ring it only had EM.
• He never spoke ill of anyone.
• He didn’t like the seed pods on his tree. During the Fall he would take a rake and try and knock them all down before snow fell.
• I had multiple principals and teachers who had him as a professor. They all respected him.
• He had more art than wall space and would rotate the picture periodically.
• He drove an automatic car with one foot on the gas and one on the brake.
• He was always well dressed.
• He took in whoever needed a home, (including myself during college for a few weeks).
• He always stood on the driveway and waved until we were out of sight.
• He always asked after the in-laws and remembered their names.
• We could have seconds of icecream.
• He smelled like Polo Sport aftershave.
• His work with the education system had a direct impact on my husband and mine educational opportunities.
• He had a whistle in the bedroom to scare away the deer in the backyard.
• He always asked if we were comfortable or needed a blanket or pillow.
• He always encouraged my writing.
• He loved Heavenly Father and Grandmother more than himself.