My Favorite Veteran, Buddy Chuck

Young love :)

I have been meaning to do a post about my grandpa since the day he died, August 23rd.  At 12:47, I got the call that he had been taken to the hospital and that his organs were shutting down.  At 12:51 I had 30 kids coming into my room to learn about math.  Talk about putting on a strong / fake smile.  Standing up there teaching that day was one of the toughest things I've ever had to do. 

My grandpa hadn't been living the life he wanted to live for the past 6 months or so.  He was so used to working out on the farm and not being stuck in a chair.  An infection in his back went undiagnosed for a very long time and I think that is what ultimately did him in.  Too much stress on his body and too much pain / deterioration to recover from.  The end was unexpected but expected all at the same time.  He woke up that morning with no pain.  At home with his wife of 60 years.  Just slumped over on the way to the bedroom to get dressed.  What more can one ask for. 

Man I will miss him.

My grandpa was the one who declared "we will live on a farm" back when marrying his high school sweet heart. They first met in 8th grade while doing a Christmas play.  He played Joseph and Mama played Mary.  He said then and there he knew he would marry her. Both of them came from farming backgrounds so it is little suprise they wanted to "move out to the country" when he got out of the airforce.   They bought their 40 acre farm in 1957 and lived there ever since.  Can't tell you how many developers have come knocking but Mama always tells them, "OVER MY DEAD BODY".

Papa was a middle school science teacher for 30 years and farmed as a hobby.  He eventually bought another 110 acre farm after retirement.  So much for retiring!  Papa and Mama were such a huge part of who I am today; I grew up next door and continued to see them pretty much daily into adulthood.   They both taught me the value of hard work and how true happiness comes straight from God and straight out of the land. 

The fact he is gone has still not sunk in.  Neither has it with my grandma I don't think.  She keeps herself so darn busy with gardening, mowing, church, bells, etc. 

All we can do is keep on keepin on and spread the love of the land to Blaine to keep Buddy Chuck's legacy alive.

60th Wedding Annivesary January 2013

Picture appeared in Farm and Dairy with my WR pumpkin 2009