Feels Like Home

My Grandpa, Finley's Great-Grandpa, Bob - passed away last Tuesday, August 24th. He was 86 years old and lived a wonderful life. We are so blessed that he was able to meet Finley the day after her birth, hold her on numerous occasions, and be at her baptism. He would always greet her with "hi honey!".

The funeral was difficult, but it honored the man that my grandpa was - kind and caring, not boastful, a hero. He had many accomplishments including flying 38 missions in WW2 in a B17 bomber, creating the Fruit Loops bird and other commercial images as a graphic artist, and having his paintings sold on the North Shore of Lake Superior.

One particular memory I have of my Grandpa:

My sister and I must have been in elementary school and it was Christmas Eve (when we celebrated with my dad's side of the family). My Grandpa was late to the gathering and for some reason we begged to open gifts early and not wait for him. My sister and I opened a few measly gifts and were disappointed in that year's spread. We went up to play in my room and were complaining to each other about how this was the worst Christmas. About an hour later, my Grandpa showed up with our gift. He walked in with a huge blue doll house with real windows and doors. He was late because he was still gluing on some of the cedar shakes on the roof just prior to coming over. He even had glue on his hands. Out came more presents from his trunk - little beds and dressers, tables and chairs. It was the greatest Christmas present ever. My sister and I felt sheepish over the whole thing!

I had such a great time putting up wallpaper and laying carpet! When I found out Pat and I were having a girl, that is one of the first things I thought of - I would have a daughter to pass the doll house on to! It will be such a great legacy to pass on to Finley to remind her of her Great-Grandpa Bob.