In the Arms of Love - Toot Sweet 4 Two

My father (and mother) with their grandchildren at their 50th wedding anniversary

My father loved his grandchildren fiercely. He was not the kind of grandfather that threw a football, played catch or coached his grandchildren’s sports teams. He was the kind of grandfather who read them stories, watched tv with them, taught them to cook and made them special treats, got down on the floor and created paintings with them getting messy from head-to-toe encouraging their creativity. He was the kind of grandfather who showed his love, in the arms of love, with cuddles and hugs.

As he aged, he was no longer able to do these things: his eyes failed so that reading was difficult, his brain function declined so that reading was difficult and cooking became a safety issue, getting on the floor was no longer possible, sitting on a sofa to cuddle wasn’t an option because he needed support around him. But, he love them no less – probably more.

My father passed away on January 19, 2013. He was 83-years-old and lived a long and full life full of love and adventure. This post and others (High Flight, Dance Me to the End of Love, Remembering Grandpa, The Family Man, Daddy’s Girl, Sons of My Father and Perspective: December 8, 1941) are dedicated to his memory and the lasting love he showered on his family.

Here are some pictures of my father with his grandchildren, in the arms of love, in younger years when we was able to show them his love…