Once upon a time there was a handsome young man who became a handsome young husband and then a hardworking father and then a nice middle-aged man who turned into a kinda grumpy old grandpa. He married a cute nice girl who became a happily married young lady and then a wonderful, nice mother who eventually turned into a goofy little grandma. That fine old man and the little old lady realized one day that they had known each other twice as long as the time before they ever met.
They had lived, laughed and loved through one wedding, four houses and at least 10 cars. They had lived, laughed and loved (with just a few tears) through the birth of four daughters and one son. They had lived, laughed and loved through their children's happy childhoods, through their crazy teens, and through their graduations and weddings.
They had lived, laughed and loved through hundreds of holidays--Valentine's Days, Easters, Halloweens, Thanksgivings, Christmases not to mention Groundhog Days, St. Patrick's Days and holidays of their own creation. They had lived, laughed and loved, or rather survived appendicitis, colitis, trips to the emergency room for stitches, braces, root canals, foot surgeries, car accidents, and one terrible, horrible windstorm.
They lived, laughed and loved visiting 32 states and a few countries too, on assorted family vacations, guided tours, cruises and weekend getaways. They lived, laughed and loved through the births of 11 fine grandsons and two little granddaughters and look forward to the birth of grandchild #14 next year! They lived, laughed and loved through reading races, Alpha-Bingo games, Christmas countdowns and even visits from all of them at once!
In between all the living, laughing and loving the little old lady sometimes thinks the fine old man watches too much TV and says "crap" too often . . . and sometimes the fine old man thinks the little old lady writes too many job lists and says "be nice" too often . . . but other than that they are truly happy. Although this is the last of 40 stories, it is not the end because the fine old man (also known as your Grandpa) and the little old lady (also known as your Grandma) plan on living, laughing and loving happily forever after!
Happy day after Christmas!
Love, Grandma (and Grandpa)
P.S.
On this date nine years ago the fine old man and the little old lady were not quite as old when they became grandparents for the fifth time when Betsy's and Brandt's very first son was born the day after Christmas in 2007! Happy Birthday Eddy Otis!
Click Eddy's name under the labels section to see more pictures of this smart, young man who is a math genius and lover of all kinds of "screens".
