Farewell....

This is going to be a different post. Our family just found out today our grandfather (and father) just passed away last night... :-(

So this is kind of a tribute to him:

"Poppa" as we affectionately called him, was a ripe ol' 92 years old. Although it's heartbreaking for all of us and those who knew this gentle, caring soul who we'll miss dearly - things were getting rougher for him lately. I guess he went on to meet up once again with "Nanna" - his wife (and our dearly missed mother and grandmother - the grand matriarch of the family!) of over 50 years. It will be a happy, joyous reunion, I'm sure.

I'll never forget Poppa's little giggle when he would make a joke under his breath; the funny banter between him and Nanna, but more often shown was their adoration for each other; his quiet, yet *devious* nature ;-); his super-ultra competitive side (which always came out at our *fun* family card games, and served him well in his pro bowling days I'm sure!); his generosity to all four of us grandkids; his (and my grandmothers) pride of my mushing lifestyle, and his insistence on showing (poor) unsuspecting guests my front-page newspaper photo; their appreciation of the letters I wrote, no matter *how* much I talked dogs; and most of all, the love he had for and shared with my grandmother, mom and aunt when he entered their lives many years ago.

I'll always thank him as the one who brought my *lifestyle* and take on life into perspective for the rest of the family (mostly my mom!) - by merely saying I "always march to the beat of my own drum" - those words had more power than he'll ever realize and resonate decades later after he first spoke those words.

So farewell Poppa, you sweet soul, till we meet again...