THE LIST: ‘Take what you want but eat what you take’

I saw a coffee cup the other day about grandpas. It describes mine pretty well.

The cup talked about grandpas loving the outdoors and telling stories. It mentioned them being great listeners and loving to spoil their grandchildren.

We said goodbye to my grandpa Bob Nelson on Saturday. He lived a wonderful life of 90 years. I think it’s safe to say he missed grandma, who passed away June 4, 2022.

My grandpa was all of those things mentioned above and more. He was one of my best friends.

Grandpa loved to play outside. Early in life, times were tough during the Great Depression, so he was known to sometimes go out and shoot supper. He loved the land and enjoyed a long, hard-working farming career. Us seven grandchildren could often be seen on the farm with him, either accompanying him with farm work or riding our go-kart around. I am the oldest of the boys, and we all certainly wore that go-kart out.

Grandpa always had a story or a joke to tell. One of my favorite jokes was about a monkey getting his tail stuck in a fan. The punch line was “It won’t be long now!” It’s alright if you’re groaning at that one.

My grandpa spoiled his grandchildren by given them a front row seat to someone who knew how to work hard while earning everything he had and loving those around him well. That was him, in a nutshell.

Though funerals are sad, I would say our family had a wonderful time together sharing memories over the weekend, surrounding the visitation and funeral service, which were Saturday.

As I stated above, grandpa was one of my best friends. He believed in us grandkids and showed us what it looks like to believe in others.

One of the ways he did this for me was he taught me to drive. Some thought that I would need to use hand controls to drive because of my spina bifida. Instead, he was patient and showed me how to drive up and down the long farm lane until I got it without needing them.

I can’t count how many clay pigeons I missed shooting with grandpa, but he never gave up on helping me try to get it.

A talented musician, grandpa had an awesome singing voice. He played accordion, piano and a little guitar. At one time, he played in polka bands. No doubt, he’s where I got my love for music. A few of us grandkids got to spend some time with grandpa in his assisted living apartment a few short days before he died. He perked up when we put the polka CD in for him. No surprise there.

He and grandma were married amidst grandpa’s service in the Army during the Korean Conflict. The Atlantic Color Guard gave a wonderful tribute to him at the graveside service, complete with the flag-folding, 21-gun salute and the bugle call “Taps.” As you can imagine, those were hard moments to get through.

My grandpa’s faith was strong and I am excited that because of that, I’ll get to see him again someday. Grandpa’s example of love and faith will carry on through our family or many generations to come.

Grandpas are hard to say goodbye to. He was the last one for either Kilee or I. It puts into perspective for me that, among other things, you should make the most of the legacy you’re leaving with every choice you make.

Grandpa always used to say, “Take what you want, but eat what you take” at the dinner table. I’m convinced that shouldn’t only be applied to food, but life as well.