Grandparents Day Simplicity Poem

by Michelle
(Sylvania, Ohio, USA)

It seemed we knew everything about Grandpa from the stories he told and retold. Then one day my 15 year old son (his great grandson) had to write a paper about someone he looked up to for a "career finding" assignment. This was how we found out things about Grandpa that we never knew.

My son David was excited about going to Grandpa's house. Not just the paper he had to write but just going to visit Grandpa. You see, Grandpa does not get around too well now, and with four kids and a full time job, we don't visit like we used to.

David had pre-written questions they had prepared in class. Simple questions like "What was your job?" "How did you choose your profession?" and "What training did you need?"

These were all simple questions. Grandpa was a truck driver, there was not much detail to the job or how he chose it. As Grandpa put it, "Not much schooling needed."

David was a little disappointed there was not much to write his paper on. So he asked Grandpa what he did before he became a truck driver.

We all knew Grandpa's stories about when he was a kid growing up, but David wanted something new. Something exciting and true that he could use. This is when we were shocked and proud at the same time.

Grandpa was a WWII veteran, it was not a secret and it was something we were proud of. But it was not a subject Grandpa talked about in any of his hundreds of stories. None of us knew where he had served or what had happened.

On this day Grandpa decided to tell. He talked about the day he was dropped on Normandy. Not D-Day, mind you. It was "D-Day plus 2," Grandpa explained. He described the gunfire, the destruction, the sorrow. This was a side of my grandfather I had never seen.

He told the story of the Battle of the Bulge, and how thankful he was to come home alive. My son and I sat with our mouths open, our ears perked as Grandpa told his stories of the war.

There were times when tears welled in Grandpa's eyes as he talked. Despite all the sorrow in the stories we were smiling at the end.

My grandfather had given David a beautiful story to write his paper about. At the same time he had given my son much more. Our family has many members who have served in the military since my grandfather, and we have been lucky to have them all come home.

I asked Grandpa why he decided to tell David his story now. He said that with the world being as dangerous as it is today, he wanted David to know what could happen if he followed in the family tradition to serve.

I am proud and grateful that Grandpa shared his heart and soul with my son.

Grandparents Day Poem
The Simple Things

He didn't have the fancy things for little girls and boys,
there were no giant play sets, no electric games and toys.

Yet somehow it was always fun at Grandpa's house, that is.
There was always something special 'bout items that were his.

The fishing pole with broken tip that giant shark had broke,
the walking stick that he would use to "shoo" bears with a poke.

Yes, everything had a story, and he told them through the night,
as we sat there listening to Grandpa's wise insight.

These stories were always special despite what Grandma says,
like the time he wrestled a bobcat when he was baling hay.

They were always grand and wondrous though now seem just half true,
Like how he walked to school and back wearing just one shoe,

through ice and snow, uphill BOTH WAYS (and he was lucky to go).
And yes, you know where Grandpa lived even summers had snow.

Grandpa lived in simple times, the family worked all day.
Wasn't money for fancy things and not much time for play.

These tales seem far fetched now but t'was the message meant to give:
No matter if you have or have not, YOU decide how to live!