He was a wonderful man with so many words (good or bad). I will always remember when I chose to live at his ho
use while I needed to get student teaching completed. It was a little different living with my Grandparents. They were older and really stuck in their ways but in all fairness they really gave me my freedom. Anyway, he told me that the most important thing that I could ever do was LISTEN! I need to listen to old people, young people, and my own peers. Listen, don't always talk...just listen and you will learn a lot. Then he went on to tell me how he used to listen to all the different people that would come into the restaurant when he was a kid. My Great Grandparents owned a Gas Station and Restaurant in Iowa. He grew up as a young boy LISTENING to everyone tell their stories. To tell you the truth....I am that same way...I love to sit and listen to stories. I could sit and did sit and listen to my Gra'pa and Gra'ma tell me some of their stories. I loved their stories not.....book stories.....don't really like to read much...(0ops! Did I say that out loud...shame on me! I am a teacher too!)Another famous line that he would always share with me was...."Marriage is a business and Love is Bull Sh@*!" I know that he had a hard time with many things and I know that he was discouraged with at least one of the decisions I made in his lifetime. He did not believe in living with someone before you were married. Of coarse, I did not set out to disappoint but I did make that choice. However, I am glad that I was able to redeem myself before he died. I was married on October 4, 2008 and had my first baby on July 27, 2009. He was able to live and see that no it was not done in the right order but that I did find that one person that I want to spend the rest of my life with and I followed through with the lifetime commitment.
Like many of my aunts, uncles, and cousins I too have fond memories of camping in the White Mountains. I loved Gra'pa's road trips. Sometimes they meant coming and visiting the King Kids. I can remember the
first time they came to visit....I could not sleep...I counted the days (I had a calendar and colored the days until it was the day). I woke up one morning and colored the second to last box. Just one more day to see Gra'pa. Gra'ma, Uncle Peya, Ben, and Stewart. I was so excited! I always went across the street to play with my friend Carol. She had a tree house. We loved to play there. And guess what....I happened to look down the street and saw a blue car coming down the road. I thought who is that....we do not know a blue car...and guess who gets out all five of them.....I started to cry! See anyone who knows me knows that I am a gold person time and organization are very important to me. And you see on my calendar it said that they were going to be here tomorrow not today and that really upset me! I guess I had adolescent ODC. But once my Mom explained it... it was all better and I was still very excited and happy to have them come to visit me.Road trips...I remember taking road trips and singing lots of songs. I loved my Gra'pa's music. One time he was playing a song and I knew it....he was shocked I knew it...(well, at least I thought I knew it) At the top of my lungs (anyone who knows me really knows I like to sing and when I know a song I like to sing it so Jesus and the Angels can hear me)! So at the top of my lungs...I sang El Fire Up....Giddy Upa...Umbapa, Umbapa Wowm Bowm! He must have laughed(giggled) the whole way home...just waiting to tell my story to everyone he saw. What I would give to have one more El Fire Up...Road trip with Gra'pa Joe....whistling and banging his thumbs on the steering wheel truckin' down the road.
Gra'pa Joe...you lived a life fast and hard! I have so many memories that I will hold close! I will never forget! I will be sure to tell Addison and anymore kids that may come, all of your silly little sayings and always remember to tell them to LISTEN!
Because....Gra'pa your memories will always take me back to yesterday!
Love your Oldest Granddaughter Shawn
Such a nice tribute Shawn!!
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