I have very fond memories of my Grandpa. Both my parents worked when I was very young so I would spend my days at my Grandparents rather than in day care. Every day was a routine with my Grandparents and after we ate our lunches promptly at 11:45 and polished off our fruit cocktails Grandpa and I would go into the livingroom to watch TV. My grandparents had cable long before my parents due to my Grandpa's love of reruns. Everyday we would watch Hawaii 5-0, Cagney & Lacey, Murder,She Wrote, A-team and the People's court. Now as I get older I find myself drawn to shows that fall into the same genre of cops shows or crime shows or whatever you want to call them. I always get a sense of his presence as I am watching these shows. I remember him on the couch with a hand-made afghan over his legs and his white socked toes poking out of the holes of the blanket with all his attention focused on the TV. I sat right next to him on the floor he would keep a hand on me or play with my hair or draw pictures with me as we watched. These are some of the fondest memories of my childhood. I remember he used to always suck on his dentures while we were watching TV and I would hate the sound, now I would give anything to hear that weird sound again or see those white socks poking through the afghan...
I was reminded of him and our time together last night as I watched that show The Shield. It was right up his ally, he would have been a fan. I guess that is why I enjoyed the program so much, it was something we would have enjoyed together. I miss him dearly. As I grow older I realize how much I am like him. The simple things like the TV shows I watch and the deeper things like the way I cross my arms or my smile. What a great man to be like, but something I could never come close too. Damn this world for taking him away from me but I am truly grateful for all my days spent by his side watching cop shows. Now when I miss him most I know what I can do to feel close to him once more.