Day 15: The best advice I’ve ever received
After my grandfather retired, he spent much of his free time in his wood shop, building furniture, custom doghouses and ice fishing houses for the good people of his hometown. My gramps was a well-known craftsman, an avid fisherman and a storyteller. He knew everyone, and everyone knew him. I remember countless times when men would pull into the driveway just to confer with E.J. about where the fish were biting, at what time of day and with what type of bait. He was always willing to share his fishing secrets and to offer up a story with a twinkle in his eye. He was the guy to go to if you needed custom woodcraft built, if you needed a chainsaw sharpened or if you just wanted a good chat. My grandmother used to chuckle at his tall tales and grumble about how difficult it was to pull him out of a grocery store because “that E.J. sure can talk!” I loved him with all my heart and spent every moment I could as a kid, following him around, asking questions to which he always provided a logical answer, tailored for my age and comprehension. I was known as E.J.’s shadow – his favorite grandchild. He taught me how to use a band saw when I was merely 12-years-old, he helped me build my own wood projects, he taught me how to fish, how to drive and how to walk on stilts. Once when I accompanied him to the city dump to drop off some trash, he came back to the truck with a little baby chick that had somehow ended up in the dump alone; I named her Sunshine and kept her safe for about a week until the neighbor’s dog ate her. I remember sitting on the beach, listening to Minnesota Twins baseball on the radio, fishing with my gramps for hours. He never got mad when I lost an expensive lure, as he was so impressed with my ability to tie it on my line, to cast it further than anyone else on shore and to occasionally reel in a fish that grown men would ogle. He would just laugh and say, “that’s my granddaughter”. Gramps and Grandma were in love with the great American road trip, and I was lucky enough to be able to accompany them on many cross-country adventures, stopping at every roadside attraction and scenic vista along the way. I loved the adventure and the sense of discovery that we shared on the road. When I graduated from high school, I asked gramps for advice. “Gramps,” I said, “If you could offer any advice, what would it be?” He laughed and said, “your mother wouldn’t like what I have to say because you’re a girl”. To which I responded, “since when has my being a girl ever made a difference? Just give it to me straight”. He said “Well… if I were you, and I had to do it all over again, I would hop a freight train and see the world”, and he laughed. I took his words to heart, and although I never have hopped a freight train, I have spent a great deal of quality time seeing the world. Twenty-seven countries, six continents and 28 states later, I hope I’ve done him proud. Every time I board a train, a plane or a car for a road trip, I give him a nod and thank him for sharing with me his indomitable spirit, boundless wisdom and the advice that he knew would bring me a lifetime of fulfillment. He knew me better than I even knew myself.
Last 5 posts by urbanmerchick
- Day 20: Everything changes in an instant - February 20th, 2008
- Day 19: Little people in Buenos Aires - February 19th, 2008
- Day 18: Little people on Easter Island - February 18th, 2008
- Day 17: Little people in Patagonia - February 17th, 2008
- Day 16: Mmmmm...pancakes - February 16th, 2008