A "dandy"

I sit here staring at a blank screen (as I have for the past month) trying to figure out the words to write/type. I'm stuck. I guess the easiest way to start is just stating the hard truth, kind of like ripping off the band aid. About a month ago, Chris's dear Grandpa Miller passed away. Gpa, as we called him, passed away on April 17, I believe, in the early morning hours. We always called him Grandpa Miller, but when Noah was old enough to talk, he always referred to him as "g-pa". I guess that is the oldest "birth-rite", to name everyone. Gpa was a very special man. From the moment Chris and I started dating, Gpa treated me like a Grand daughter. I never grew up around my Grandparents (something I really missed, but couldn't be helped), so having a "grandpa" around was something new, but so fun. He never made me feel like I had to "earn" my way to the family, I just was one of his grandchildren that he loved and cared for. As a matter of fact, Chris had told me that Gpa used to ask him why we weren't dating (when we were in High School) -- see, that man also had GREAT taste! :) Gpa had a great sense of humor. He always liked making people laugh. He also understood MY sense of humor.. which was a plus. He would always point at me with a little smirk on his face, and we would both laugh. My mom described it so well when she used to tell me that he was one of those special men that always had a twinkle in his eye, and a smile on his face. A *twinkle* was so right. You never knew if that was a *twinkle* out of mischief, or just because he was happy, but it was always there. When Chris and I got married, we used to get together with Gpa and Gma often to play board games. Our favorite was Sequence. Gma and I were on a team and Gpa and Chris were on a team. Rumor has it that the boys won last, but, I'm not so sure about that! ;)

We still got together with them when I was pregnant with Noah. I remember one time in particular, they took us to a Chinese restraunt by our house, and then we went to their house afterwards for icecream. Gpa thought it was hysterical that I would put my icecream bowl on my bulging belly for a table. I remember him laughing, and taking pictures. His laugh was undeniable, sometimes Chris laughs like him. It was a very contagious laugh.
The day my first baby, (which was the first great grandchild he got to see -- his first great grandchild was born in VA a month before!!) Noah, was born was very special. Everybody was up there, and after all the craziness, they got to come in the room. I remember Gpa holding him and saying, "well, look at that. He's a dandy". He was around when all of my kids were born, and he held every one of them with such pride. He called every one of his great grandkids "a dandy". He loved all 7 of his great grandkids very much. He couldn't wait to see them, and hear stories from them. He treasured ALL of them so much. They are very lucky children to have known him.

Gpa was such a doer, too. When we moved in to our house, he inspected the outside, and helped Chris caulk some stuff that he felt wasn't done right. When Chris worked late during "busy season" he would come and mow our yard.. much to our protest! Gma would just say, "kids, he wants to do this for you, just let him", and we would. Chris always told of the many oil changes that he always helped with with his car.

There are so many more memories of Gpa.. these are just a few, and they are mine. I'm sure each person whose lives he touched could write a book on him, he was a great man. He will be greatly missed, and we loved him very much. In his own words, he was a "dandy".

So, with this, I close. I know this was a jumbled mess of thoughts, but these posts are not my strong suit. I just hope Gpa knows how much we loved him. I am pretty sure he did. I'm ever so grateful to him for opening his heart up to another grandchild, and of course, all of his great grandchilren. Love you, Gpa!