Papa

There are so many fond memories I have of our relationship. I have never met a more respected, loyal, unjudgemental, forgiving, kind, patient man. A complete example for people. I would love to have your chararistics. I dont know any Grandad who has done the things that you have done for me. You have created an amazing family for everyone to enjoy.
I will miss the sunday lunches that we have every week at your house. I love how you used to play hide and seek with me , even though I was ALWAYS the one hiding, and this would go on for hours. And you pretended not to know where I was even though I was hiding in the cupboard giggling pretty loudley. I remember you potty training me, with that dog potty that all of us grandkids used. I remember helping you doing the gardening. I remember washing your car just so I could get $5. Which is far too much to wash a car. The endless lollies and chocolate biscuits you supplied us with . The stories you used to read us. Sitting on your lap and looking at "wheres wally" for hours on end. You used to play "riding the bike" with me, where I would lie on the ground and you would grab my legs, and start out slowly, then when we got the the down hill, my legs where everywhere because the bike was going so fast. I remember when we went to see Nana at the funeral home, It was just me and you, and you hadnt seen her dead body yet. And we stod in that room and just cried together. The way you used to pat my horse was halerious. When you used to brush the boys hair, it was always a comb over. When you and Nana would go to Australia every year, you would always bring us back the most amazing presents, like a Crystal dolphin? That was my favourite. The card and the Cheque every year you give us for christmas and birthdays. Your ability to eat food when its past its used by date and never get sick, is incredible. I love the way you tell stories. When you told me that woman should be treated with nothing but respect. When you told us about your first kiss with Nana, your face lit up and you said that after you kissed her you skipped all the way home. That made me believe in love. You stod by Nana even though she was crazy. If I need to be driven somewhere, you are always there. You invented the "special sandwhich" which is just ham, lettuce and tomato. You also invented the Cocoa pops and ice-cream combo which we would have at your house for breakfast. I love watching you watch 'Americas funniest home videos' , the way you laugh at it. That time when we were just sitting in the lounge and you randomly turned to Daniel and said "what? you want a smack?" and us just staring at you wondering if you were being serious because daniel didnt do anything and then you started laughing. It clarified where the root of weirdness comes from in our family. The day I said to you when I was about 7years old "Papa, when you die, can I have your red fishing rod?" and you agreeing. The one time you smacked me, I was so shocked, and I cried for about an hour. I was mostly upset that I had made you angry enough to do that. When I was little and I would call you "Puppy" and I thought I was SOO funny. You were a good enough Cricket and Rugby player to play for a living. But you selflessly chose the life of a pastor instead. The amount of times you have financially bailed me out is crazy. The way you ALWAYS open my mail, theres no such thing as privacy with you. You came to court with me, and helped fight a fight that I then lost. When we were young, we used to ask you to take out your false teeth, and you would do it, then growl, and we would run away screaming because we were scared,and we would come back and ask you to do it again. " show us your legs Papa, show us your legs" you would then reveal how white your legs were, and we would roll around on the ground laughing. When you would talk me through and help me deal with the complication around my parents split, and the lack of my mum in my life, you would always start sobbing at the pain that I was experiencing. When you had a heartattack, I remember all of us grandchildren sitting on the beach praying for you to be ok, while the parents were in the hospital with you. When we went to see you, you were as high as a kite, and told me there was a nice young doctor and the hospital for me. The Bond that you have and have always had with Daniel. I remember when we left that hospital he burst uncontrollabley into tears, and he didnt even want to go and see you because it was too sad for him to see you like that. The fishing trips. Every holidays you would take us to toyworld and we were allowed a toy each. You would also take us to Te papa and we were allowed to go one one of the rides. Your driving is so scary, you think indicating is optional, and when people toot you say "Drivers these days are so angry, everyone is in such a rush, and is straight to there horn", i am hiding my head in shame. When you would take us down to the airport, and we would pull over below the runway and lie on the bonnet of the car, and watch the planes fly over our head. How you have your coffee black, no sugar. Your love for cheese. At christmas time its always your responsibility to bring the pre lunch snacks, and its always nuts. You make the best mince. When you were talking to me about one of your round the world trips, you said to me that you can see me in New York, and that I will love it. I hoped and still do that you would be the one to conduct my wedding. There is nothing more that I would like. There are so many memories, that I will never ever forget. And for that, Thank you for richly blessing me. I love and appreciate you beyond these words.