My grandfather, Baba, was one of the best. He was gentle and kind. Intelligent and clever. He delighted in learning and was always up for an adventure. He loved his family and he loved words.
Baba went to the library almost every day and if he couldn’t get there, he would call the reference desk with his questions. The ladies knew his voice and he kept them busy with his burning inquiries. When he wasn’t reading or highlighting large portions of texts, he was creating and writing his own short stories and home answering machine messages. Sometimes the messages made sense, sometimes they did not; but they always rhymed and they always brought him joy to create.
Baba was a special man. It’s because of him I wanted to be a teacher. It is because of him, I will always be a life-longer learner. It’s because of watching him observe and problem solve, that I love observing, exploring, and discovering just like him.
The holidays always bring a mixture of emotions with them- sadness for the ones we miss, joy for the ones we have near, gratitude for the memories from the past and the new memories we are creating. In memory of my grandfather, I wrote the following little poem (true to his poetic style.) It brings me joy to think I might be carrying on a little bit of his “rhyming words and writing “corny” verses” legacy. 🙂
Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving
Twas the night before Thanksgiving,
And all through the town,
the pies were a baking,
the dishes strewn around.
The preparations were happening,
the time was very near,
the moods varied from maddening to
“Yay! The time is here!”
In the hustle and the bustle,
its hard to stop and rest,
to remember why we celebrate,
the reasons why we’re blessed.
This day is more than history.
more than moods and the food,
this day is about gratitude,
and the people we include.
The blessings that come in small ways,
through the good times and the bad,
the people who praise and pray with us,
and the communities that make us glad.
Let’s turn our eyes toward heaven,
and thank the good Lord who
gives us life and provisions
daily for me and for you.
And let’s sow some seeds of gratitude,
so our hearts may be renewed.
And harvest a field of hope and joy,
that will last the whole year through.
Happy Thanksgiving Eve! I am thankful for you! 🙏
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