I’m feeling nostalgic today. I’m listening to Mama’s Song (and am currently forcing it on you) which always makes me nostalgic, and thinking of my Pop-Pop. He’s my only grandparent left and I dread the day when I get a call that he’s not with us anymore. But, I’m not going to talk about that. I’m going to talk about the things I love about him. And about my grandmother who passed away in 2003 a few months after the two of them celebrated their 65th anniversary — an anniversary which I am ever so proud of them for having.
My Pop-Pop was born in 1917. He was a Philadelphia cop (and rumor has it, a young Bill Cosby used to tease him while he was directing traffic in North Philly), a hard-working father, and a painter who painted everything from houses, to his boat shoes (true story), to beach chairs.
My Mom-Mom was a cook–and oh my was she a cook–a baker, and a loving mother. Women of her day had a way of making a meal for fifteen with seemingly little effort and time and having it be absolutely delicious. She used a lot of butter and there was never a meal I was more excited to eat than one that Mom-Mom had prepared. From peach cobblers with warm vanilla pudding drizzled on top to twice baked potato boats, to buttered string beans everything was really, really, really good. What I wouldn’t give to sit beside her now, give her a hug, and share a meal (prepared by her, of course). My Pop-Pop always referred to her, at least in front of us kids, as Mom-Mom (which I always thought was funny as a kid) and gets choked up thinking of her now, but he would get choked up then too–when he talked about her marrying him, how he wooed her, how he courted her at a restaurant where she was a waitress using her sister’s name and I.D. because she wasn’t old enough to be working yet. She worked under the name Irene–her sister’s name–and once he took a liking to her, he called her by name. He always thought she had said Eileen. She was too embarassed to correct him so she was Eileen from then on out. I think that’s funny.
They had six children, raised them with love and good values, and I am blessed beyond my wildest imaginations to have one of those six as my father, a good man–a product of their good parenting, no doubt. They lived in Ocean City, NJ just a block from the beach and boardwalk and it was such a fun place to visit.
My Pop-Pop always saved napkins that he’d already used. He’d stick them in the back of the napkin holder and we always knew to take one from the front. When people were parking in front of their O.C. house, he’d always shout directions from the porch trying to help them parallel park. He really just likes to talk to people, a trait he’s certainly passed onto my father… the most gregarious man alive. He’s 93 now and at times is still sharp as a tack. When I see him I have to give him a little reminder of who I am: “Hi Pop-Pop! It’s Bridget. The one in Boston. The one married to the professor.” “OH! The professor! How is the professor!?” Steve has never been Steve. He is strictly known as “the professor.” But you can ask him old police stories, their old addresses, diners he used to visit that haven’t existed for years… and he will remember them all.
I’m really glad Steve and the kids have gotten the chance to meet him. I’m glad I’ve got Irish and Ukranian roots from the two of them and that their genes are in me. I’m glad I have special memories of him and my grandmother, their love for one another which was always so evident, and the commitment they made to one another… an incredible lesson for all those following in their footsteps.
Man, did I tell you or did I tell you… I am feeling nostalgic.
SO SO sweet! 65 years of marriage….gosh I pray I am so lucky.
Im singing along to the song while I write … I love, love, love Carrie.
I also get SO nostalgic. Your grandpa is adorable and I feel the same way about MY grandpa. Grandparents are such a gift.
Im glad you treasure him so much!
Oh my goodness, I am crying! My pop-pop passed away in May, the day after we found out we were pregnant. I never had the chance to tell him. Cherish each and every moment!
I got all teary reading this post. Its so beautiful:) 65 years together is so amazing, isnt it?
Kisses, my dear
Happy New Year
Ps: I am hosting a great home decor GIVEAWAY today, so please join in 🙂
Such lovely memories. I didn't get a lot of time with my grandparents as a child and am envious of people who got to form such memories with their grandparents. Though I do cherish what little I have, including the days when my grandpa couldn't remember who I was, but still told stories of his life, just like yours does.
Thank you for sharing =)
i can relate. i have 2 grandparents left (my mom's parents who are still married) and i dread – DREAD – getting the email saying something has happened to one or both of them (esp. living in europe….i wouldn't be able to rush over to their house or make an emergency hospital visit). i loved reading this, though – esp. the part about bill cosby. 🙂
grandparents are the BEST. lost all mine by the time i was 18 but have the greatest memories to keep me going. glad that you still have one left. : ) great post, bridge
this post made me sniffly. you were nostalgic in the best way! what a beautiful story. and those pictures! i definitely stared at the wedding picture for a long time.
ps. everything tastes better with butter! haha.
i had never heard that song before so thanks for sharing it. i almost had to turn it off though because….i dont like to cry. and it did that to me.
those were some pretty sweet memories. it made me want to call up my grandparents and tell them i love them, we never know how long we have.
makin' me cry and all, bridget. what a legacy y'all have 🙂 family is amazing. what a blessing to have such a strong one. love reading about others families. don't you wish you could live back in the day where the ladies wore those amazing dresses and cooked like nobody else. yeesh. 🙂
this made me choke up a little! what lovely grandparents to have…your pop-pop seems like such an amazing man, and i love that steve is known as "the professor" too funny 🙂
What an incredible couple. It makes me so excited to be married and have the kind of marriage they had. Such a loving and beautiful tribute!
what a special pop-pop and fantastic story! so beautiful to see strong families growing old together!
i've got a bad (or good) case of nostalgia today too. your pop pop is just precious. thanks for sharing his story with us. what a sweetie.
This made me so nostalgic. I have been homesick for too long… You are so lucky to have those wonderful people as grandparents. Group hug!
xx
My grandparents have been married over 60 years and it's great to see how love CAN last when we are constantly hearing about people breaking up. At least you have all the wonderful memories to look back on and can continue to look back on for the rest of your life 🙂
I understand your feeling of nostalgia. My grandfather passed away in 1998, and he would be 96 today. I miss him everyday. My grandmother also passed on in 2003, and that was incredibly difficult for my family. I didn't have the privilege of having my grandparents just an hours drive – we always lived in NJ and they were in northen Minnesota. So twice a year it was – and I lived for those visits. I wish I had (or someone had) written down my grandparents' stories – my grandfather was a master storyteller. You are such a gifted writer, you should take advantage of your gift and create a written history from their stories. I wish you many more happy memories with your grandfather.
Claire S.
i just had this same nostalgic feeling the other night with my husband, reminiscing about my mom-mom. ps..never met anyone else who called their grandma mom-mom and grandpa pop-pop. love that and loved reading this!
Your 'pop-pop' sounds like a wonderful man 🙂
It's wonderful that he and your late grandmother were married for so long, with the photos to prove it!
That's great though that you're close with your grandparents. I'm not, although I wish I was. I can still be though.
My grandpa(my Dad's Dad) passed away only last month(a little before Christmas), and it was hard to see my Dad (and aunts and uncle) in pain.
I guess it all just teaches us that death may come, but that doesn't mean they're forgotten. And who knows? We may see them again.
Aww…such a sweet story and pictures! Thanks for sharing! <3
Aww, I love this post. I've been really nostalgic since the new year began, too – not sure why – but good to know I'm not the only one!
oh sheesh, this made me cry a little. (i think the song playing while i read contributed to my teary-eyes) this also made me miss my great-grandmother, who was one of my favourite people in the whole world. she passed away when i was thirteen and it broke my heart. i adored her. don't you love their stories? grandparents tell the best stories. i could listen for days.
Such a sweet story! And also, I love this song 🙂
Love that song. A very cute story you shared. My grandmother is the same way. She has a hard time remembering new things, but she can tell you all about growing up with 14 brothers and sisters (she always says she was definitely not her mother's favorite, that her mother said she was too sassy).
Aww, how inspiring! I love nostalgic posts and 65 years of marriage! How amazing!
xx
Melina
So sweet :)!
This is so sweet, and 65 years of marriage?! How inspiring.
I, too, have a deep love for my grandparents (and their marriage). They were so fantastically in love that my grandmother never dated or remarried after my grandfather died, and I firmly believe that she loved him more and more every day until she, too, passed recently. Isn't that tragically beautiful? I only hope that love like that can exist in my life. 🙂
Thanks for sharing, Bridget!
Bring on the waterworks! What a wonderful story. You are so lucky to have such lovely memories and to still have Pop-Pop around. My grandparents died when I was really young, so I've never grown up with any. It makes me so happy to hear about others who have such great grandparents!
Bring on the waterworks! What a wonderful story. You are so lucky to have such lovely memories and to still have Pop-Pop around. My grandparents died when I was really young, so I've never grown up with any. It makes me so happy to hear about others who have such great grandparents!
ahhhhhhhh. sniffle. boooooooo hooooooo. sniffle sniffle. tear jerker, sister.
I also loved when Pop-Pop would grab Mom-Mom. In his loving and flirtatious way. He couldn't get enough of that woman!
This is sooo sweet Briget! I enjoyed every word of this. I really love to learn about older people, and I especially love to see pictures of them when they were young!
Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Through a blog, through a blog, through a blog I recently came across your blog. This post was so nice to read! Aren't grandparents the best? My blog is actually in honor of my grandma and grandpa…it was really nice to read your tribute to yours.