Wednesday, March 16, 2005

I found my thrill, on Blueberry Hill...

I could very easier start off this post on a sour note. But I refuse to do so. Rather... Let's approach this from a different perspective.

My Grandfather was a wonderful human being. He is the reason I am here today. He brought 7 children into this world with my Grandmother. Through the marriages of their 7 children, he had 13 Grandchildren... And in addition of those 13 grandchildren he also had 6 Great Grandchildren (I think I did all of the math right). Needless to say, he was a blessed man with many gifts. Someone of that caliber does not deserve to live in the pain he was living in. Someone of that caliber is needed elsewhere... hence, on this Sunday past, March the 13th, at roughly 6:15am, my Grandfather was called to is family in heaven at 89 years of age.

From the days where him and I would talk about our baseball cards, to the consistent battle between the Yankees and the Red Sox, every memory I have of him is an amazing one. Sunday visits, Christmas parties, birthdays, special occasions...Grandpa carried with him an aura that told you without even looking that he as there. Just ask those that knew him.

Even the past few months have been memorable. No matter how unhealthy Grandpa looked, he was always a smartass (at least now I know where I get it from). He had some classic one liners at the past few Christmas parties. He was even being funny just two weeks ago when my cousin and my uncle came out to visit in February from Michigan. He made comments regarding his workout routine @ the retirement home... asking my cousin what they do with the bloody knives after surgery... JUST to get a reaction. That's Grandpa for you. One moment I will always hold dear was the last thing he and I talked about. I asked him at what age he married my Grandmother. Without hesitation he told me, "We went for 3 years and we were married when I was 24, she was 19." About a month ago, I turned 24. They were married for 65 Years. I understand that it was a different era, but it puts things into prospective when you think about where they were when they were your ago.

So as I approach different stages in my life, I know he'll check up with us from time to time. My Grandfather may not be of this world, but I know he's always looking down on us. Now it wouldn't Grandpa's style to end this post on such a sappy note. That's not his way of doing things. My father told me once, "Always leave them laughing." I'm sure he got that from his father too. So with that in mind, I was thinking about the upcoming baseball season:

I think my Grandfather was one of the FEW individuals that saw the Red Sox win TWO Championships.

(He was 24 years old in this picture.)


John J. Leone, Sr.
Decemeber 15, 1915 - March 13, 2005

I did it My Way...