I am wondering if anyone could share some humerous or silly memories of my grandpa Ralph - whether he was your sibling, in-law, uncle, father, grandfather, or even great-grandfather.
A few I just thought of...
I always liked how he said grandma's name: CATH-ERN ( as opposed to CATH-REN)
I remember how he'd give us grandkids a nickle for taking off his shoes & socks while he sat in his recliner.
I thought it was so funny how he'd sniff Vicks Vapo-Rub to open up his sinuses.
There was always an open can of cashews or peanuts in the cupboard.
He hummed alot - I think this is where I got the habit too!
Crystal
13 comments:
When Judy posted the picture of Aunt Catherine's birthday lunch I thought about "Cathern" then.
I think of Uncle Ralph as being quiet at family dinners or gatherings and then making a statment that just made you think. Thanksgiving of 1985 we were in Chicago for at Jay's for Thanksgiving dinner. The brothers were discussing their athletic feats and in a pause in the conversation Uncle Ralph said, "With school consolidation if 3 schools merge 2/3 of kids won't have the experiences we did."
He and Aunt Catherine came to Greenville when Mary graduated with her master's degree and was in a Shakespearean play and I graduated with my bachelor's degree. It was always special to me that they were there for a big occasion such as that.
There are two things that I remember for sure:
When a little stressed and mentally stretched Brother Ralph would cautiously say, "Oh well, what the heck."
And....I often think of his generosity--he was indeed a Luke 6:38 man!
Along with humming, he air-typed with his fingers. He often said he wished he could stop that habit.
Mom used to complain that Dad would ask for a piece of gum, chew it, swallow it, ask for another piece, etc. until the whole pack was gone.
He couldn't wear wool, he "sucked" his teeth, and he scratched his back on the door posts.
I had never noticed that he said "Cathern."
1. Re: rk2: yes, he loved to attend
significant events of others and enjoyed watching others succeed at their goals and rejoicing with them.
2. Re: Uncle Lynn: yes, RDK was a generous man. Since his death, I've had 2 former Gridley men (now in their early-70's)tell me "you probably don't know this, but your Dad gave me money to attend college. Otherwise, I'd never have been able to go". True, I did not know of this and it touched me deeply to hear of it.
3. He loved popcorn, Steak 'n Shake Orange Freezes, and chocolate malt balls.
4. He could make fudge and made a batch every few years.
I think of him laying on the floor playing games with his children when they lived in the big house on E. 4th street. I also loved to eat dinner with them in that house. How I loved to go there and be part of that lively family for a while. I also loved to go to their house in LaGrange for a week or so - never a dull moment.
Our best memory is taking him and Catherine to Florida to see Jay and Ruth. When we got back to Bloomington, he scraped the garage door when putting his car away and broke some bricks on the garage. Instead of getting upset, he said, "Well, you just deal with it!" We often say that to each other when we become frustrated with a situation.
Also meant to say that I say "Cathern" - doesn't everyone?
I remember his air typing with his fingers. In fact I did the very same thing. We would talk about it. I still do it some to this very day,
As I recall he would make fudge a lot in high school. Probably once a week. I don't think he ever had a failure. (no candy thermometer either). I miss him.
Me and Shelley air-type too! It must be a Klopfenstein trait.
Well, I never air-typed until reading these comments. Now I've been doing it. . .along with air-playing the piano. . .
We were very honored that he and Aunt Catherine came for graduation/the play. I remember their stopping at our home periodically on their way to/from Florida and he and Dad telling us the story of dropping a penny from the top of the grain elevator, then hiding and watching the reaction of the people below. That was so funny!
I also remember that whenever there would be a lull in conversation, Uncle Ralph would say "mmm-huh!" and I find myself doing that sometimes.
And . . . Dad was telling me just last week about Uncle Ralph saying "Well, you just deal with it" when you can't change a situation. Apparently he was well known for this.
Yes, I am afflicted with the air-typing also. I always noticed that Grandpa moved his fingers, but I didn't know what he was doing until I learned to type myself. Now I can't stop. It's difficult to sit through a sermon on Sunday without having to type along with it! And sometimes if we are watching a movie and holding hands, Sam will suddenly say "are you typing the movie?" and I will not even realize I was doing it.
I remember being paid to take his socks off too. I would never do it because I didn't like the 'crackling' noise from the socks on his dry feet. But Grandma would take lotion and rub and rub his feet. I was grossed out by that as a kid and thought that must really be true love!
I also remember one time being at their apartment in Gridley and getting a little too rambunctious. He called out, 'Hey kids look at that house across the street!' We all ran over and tried to figure out what he was showing us. Finally he said, 'If you're trying to talk to those people then you have the right volume. But we're all in the same room, so you can turn it down a little.' I thought that was pretty funny and clever.
One can be a grafted in Klopfenstein who air types. I've been doing it for years. I've just about learned not to air type on bed sheets because it drives my poor husband crazy.
Hey everybody! It is fun to hear all these memories of grandpa. I remember as a kid being fascinated with all the interesting things grandpa had around: country western belt buckles, coins left over from trips to foreign countries. He liked chocolate covered peanuts. I remember him being quiet but dignified and fun loving. I miss him. He left a good legacy. I still run into people who tell me they knew him and respected him. I wish grandpa was around now so I could share some of my experiences in the financial and corporate world with him. He would understand and appreciate them.
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