Love Notes Left For Grandpa

During the weeks that Grandpa spent in the hospital, many left notes on the caring bridge. Notes of support, notes of love, notes of encouragement. Among those left were notes written by Ane and Megan thanking Grandpa for the gifts of love and lessons learned. In case you missed them, they are treasures not to be missed.

On December 30, 2009 Megan wrote:

Wednesday, December 30, 2009 12:39 PM, CST

My dearest Grandpa,

I have been thinking about you all day long!  Really, I've been thinking of you most of the day for the past 2 months. 

I've been thinking about making choke cherryy jam with you and fudge and pickles, and your wonderful garden, and playing whist at your dining room table (with endless bowels of candy that I gorged myself on).  I've been thinking about playing hundreds (thousands maybe?) of games of cribbage and how you taught me how to shuffle.  And I've been thinking about how you always seemed to be holding a baby or a little grandkid, and you were so good at it you didn't even seem like a baby hog! 

I've been thinking about the stories you would tell me; stories about the Navy, or history, or my aunts and uncles and parents, or anything else that was on your mind or mine.  I been thinking about going to visit you at Coins, and how you almost told me what was in hot dogs, but Grandma stopping you just in time... I've been thinking about how I've never seen you in a bad mood.  Maybe I lived too far away? 

I've been thinking about sweet you are to Eva, and how you are kind enough to tell me how beautiful and sweet she is, which just makes me thrilled.  I've been thinking about how much my mom adores you and how I know that you adore your children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and grandma too--all 78 of the Burnses, and the 79th on the way. 

And while thinking about this, it occurs to me that I have NO bad memories.  None. 

I'm pretty sure that makes you the best grandpa ever. 
I love you Grandpa. 

I love you I love you I love you.
Meggie

 

On the same morning Ane wrote:

 

Wednesday, December 30, 2009 11:44 AM, CST

hi grandpa, it's little ane here.

boy do i love you.  what an honor to be your granddaughter.  i  just want you to know that i've taken note of your style and plan on sharing some lessons with my own future grandkids. 

1.  it's ok to cheat at solitaire--really it's more fun that way.
2.  you really ought to eat another gingersnap (for pete's sake)!!  they're not doing any good sitting in the box!
3.   home-canned sourkraut IS good enough to be eaten with a spoon if you like. 
4.   plant an apple tree!  and a garden......you can't eat grass!
5.  if a baby is sleeping, keep it that way!   kick everyone out of the house if that's what's necessary.

most importantly, grandpa, i will show my grandkids this:

family comes first.  good things will come from honoring and devoting yourself to your family.

i love you i love you i love you.
ane

Quickly she updated the post to read

Wednesday, December 30, 2009 12:17 PM, CST

oops!!  i miswrote that...don't worry.  i know that GOD comes first and then family.  what a shining example of this you are, grandpa.  i LOVE you.

Ane Klomps