remembering grandpa herbie

I know I'm really late with today's post (so late, in fact, that it's almost tomorrow!)

 but I didn't feel like writing until now. Today's post was supposed to be about 

thrifting fun with friend, Penny again. We both found some lovely treasures

yesterday morning. However, yesterday afternoon I got a phone call

from my mom telling me that my grandpa had passed away.

Grandpa Herbie was one of those people you thought would live "forever".

We thought he'd at least live to be 100 - and he almost made it! He would've

been 98 in December. He was an amazing and always active man, welder by

 trade during his working years. He made the most beautiful ornamental railings ~ 

including for our church and even the Art Institute of Chicago.  Even into his 80's

 and 90's, living in Kentucky on his own, he was always up to something...riding

 his motorcycle, bowling, golfing, playing cornhole, reading his Bible and arguing 

with the Baptist preachers, building a couple of houses, had a vineyard and made 

his own wine, maintained an apple orchard, raised ostriches, had a saw mill and

 built a tree house just a few years ago...the list could go on.

 When I was a little girl, Grandpa would take me and my sister to the carnival

 and play those over-priced games to try and win us a stuffed animal. One time

 he won a gigantic brown teddy bear for me that I promptly named Honey Bear. 

Honey Bear was perfect for burying my face into when there were thunderstorms

 at night so that I wouldn't see the lightning. Grandpa would also take us out

for ice cream at the local ice cream parlor in the evenings - a big deal back in 

the late 60's and early 70's. And one of the most fun things of all ~ Grandpa had

 a huge BMW motorcycle and would take us kids one by one for a ride on the back

of that bike. We'd ride all around the neighborhood, wind flying through my hair.

(This was back before helmet laws - even for kids!) I loved putting my arms

 around Grandpa's waist and holding on for dear life. The only thing I was afraid of

was the possibility of getting my leg burned on the muffler.

I know my grandpa lived a long, good life. And that I was very blessed to

have a grandparent still around at my age.

I'll be back probably on Sunday with thrifting news. In the meantime, if 

you feel inclined to send out prayers or good thoughts for my family

at this time, I'd appreciate it so much. Thank you, my blogging friends.