This is my Dad and Great Grandpa. Both served our country for many years, fought in many wars and supplied America its freedom. These are just two people in my life who have served our country. Thank you Grandpa, Grandpa Charlie, Papa, Uncle David, Rex and all the others.
Paul E. Vied, Great Grandpa, circa 1968-9.
Paul E. Vied, II, Dad, circa 1968-9.
It was January 1, 2010 and we were leaving Texas. On the way out, we stopped in Castroville to see Great Grandpa and Great Grandma. We had lunch at the local diner and got one last Hershey’s Bar with Almonds and a Diet Coke (hey, one thing has to be sugar-free, right?).
Lunch at Sammy’s consisted of cheeseburgers, coffee and Big Red. The quick wit of Great Grandpa even had Dad laughing, which is unseen unless he’s watching America’s Funniest Videos.
You can’t even keep the junk food out of the nursing home. Wyatt pulled back the curtain and found Ritz. Hidden in the fridge are Hershey’s bars, Baby Ruth’s and Diet Cokes. I love great grandparents!
When I see this, I see hands of a Great Grandma that form a heart. She is full of love, smiles and an occasional surprise curse word.
Great Grandpa’s hands have always had his Shriner ring and a half chewed cigar. It’s been this way for as long as I can remember.
A subtle smile appears on Great Grandpa’s face as he gives me a hard time for taking photographs. In the background is one of the few things he brought to the nursing home. Amidst his old tape recorders and reading machine, he has his shadow box of his military accomplishments. He’s a war hero. And even a WWII honoree.
As Great Grandpa said, “What makes a clock run faster, then?” I’ve been trying to answer that for a while now. I guess nothing makes it run faster, it’s just the good times that make time fly right before our eyes and in a moment, it’s all over.
viedfinder 