My grandfather, Grampy, is a Marine (warning: if you make the mistake of saying “he was a Marine” without skipping a beat he will bark “Once a Marine, always a Marine!” at you. And probably add a “Semper Fi!” in there for good measure.)
Grampy has some incredible tales from World War II. Now in his 80s, he suffers from Alzheimer’s. His day to day memories are pretty much non-existent, which is hard, but the memories from his days serving the Marine Corps are so clear. And with every story we tell, he always has a counter-story from his Marine days.
For example this conversation:
Nanny: “Any new boys?”
Jenny: “Well there is this one guy, maybe … ”
Grampy: “Does he have tattoos?”
Jenny: “Huh?”
Grampy: “Do you have any tattoos?”
Jenny: “Hah. No!”
Grampy: “You will never get a tattoo. You see this?! (pointing to the tattoo on his arm – the Eagle, Globe and Anchor) My mother told me never to get a tattoo. And then I got this as soon as I got into the Marines. We were in South Carolina. Do you know what this cost?
Jenny: (of course I know, he’s told me this story at least 40 times) “No Grampy. How much?”
Grampy: “A buck, a quarter and two beers. And it broke my mother’s heart.”
Jenny: “Ok. No tattoos.”
My Grandfather knows that he has Alzheimer’s, and I know that makes him feel uncomfortable in conversation. But today he’ll meet up with some old friends from the Corps and tell important stories of the historic battles they fought, and that will make them feel young again.
Grampy and Andy Card
Me and Grampy from this past summer
Thank you Grampy. Thank you all Veterans.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Your Grampy is too cute. Treasure all the time you have with him, as it can be taken away so quickly. Oh how I wish I still had my Nana to share funny stories with – the four year anniversary of her passing was this week and it still seems like yesterday.
Good for you for writing about your grandfather. We need to thank veterans as much as we can and this day provides a good opportunity.
He is adorable….Alzheimer is such an evil disease to have…I am sorry. :( But I am happy he can go and retell old war stories with some of his friends….. check out this link to a nonprofit I posted today..