Reflecting on Grandpa Cline

I originally started this blog to follow my training efforts for triathlons. It was funny and light, all about my trials and tribulations of being a normal person trying to complete tris. However, today I am sitting at my parents' house in Monroe and need a public forum to share some very personal reflections.

My grandpa Cline's funeral is today. He was 95 years old and lived a long and interesting life. He worked hard from a young age, fought in the Pacific theater during World War Two, and married and had 13 children. He farmed some, worked in factories, and during his later years, the last job I remember him having was as the greeter at the local Wal-Mart.

Grandpa Cline was a character. He lived his entire life as a staunch Republican (even though he once admitted to me that he voted for Kennedy...but that was the only Democrat for whom he had ever voted.) He knew that my views were in stark opposition to his and when I was a teenager and young adult, Grandpa always tried to draw me into political discussions. I'm pretty sure he knew that he wouldn't be able to change my mind, but enjoyed the banter, liked to see me impassioned about my viewpoints, and I think he ultimately liked getting a rise out of me.

Several years ago, when Grandma and Grandpa were still living in their own apartment, Mom and I stopped-by for a visit. I had been told earlier about how stubborn Grandpa was being, refusing to leave the house for a much needed haircut. In an effort to tease him, I asked if he had clippers in the house and suggested that I could give him a quick buzz cut in the bathroom. It was the most energy that he had all day, as he agreed and even suggested that we could lay newspaper on the bathroom floor to catch the hair. I suggested a change of routine and it seemed to perk him up. (Ultimately, I had to talk him out of the buzz cut in the bathroom. I've never actually used clippers and was afraid that I would really mess up and then everyone in the family would blame me.)

There were a few physical peculiarities about Grandpa. He was missing half a finger, a constant reminder of his time in the Navy, had tattoos on both arms -- all related to his time in the service, and for some reason, he always liked wearing cowboy hats. At the end of a long day, his shock of bright, white hair would form into the shape of the hat. Even as he got older, his eyes were always bright blue and are the same color that I see on my mom's face.

Grandpa cared so much about his large family. Clearly, having 13 children leads to having even more grandchildren and today, even a number of great grandchildren. Even though we all had bumps in the road, Grandpa was always proud of us...all of us. When asked why he had so many kids, his response was always the elusive, "Which one would we have given back?" It definitely wasn't the point of the question, but without saying it directly, shows how much he cared.

When my niece, Madalin was born in 1997, Grandpa loved her beautiful red, curly hair. It was the same color as his mother's, Great Grandma Cline. For years, he called Madalin his copper penny. I know that he called my mom his little stump fairy when she was a child, even though I never really understood why. To my knowledge, I never had a nickname, but I'm pretty sure he had more for others.

The last few years of Grandpa's life were particularly hard. He lost Grandma in 2008 and really seemed to stop caring after that. His body was failing him. He couldn't see well nor could he hear well. (Even though I don't think he could ever hear very well. Grandpa had a habit of turning down his hearing aid or not wearing it at all and instead just watching. I think he did this for YEARS.) The failings of his body were frustrating to him. One of the last times I went to visit, he told me that even though the name of the home in which he was living was called Pleasant View, it was anything but a very pleasant view.

His mind remained sharp and I think this frustrated him even more. On one of my last visits, my niece and Dad stayed in a nearby waiting room while Mom and I visited with Grandpa. As we were getting ready to leave, Madalin and Dad walked by and Grandpa called out to them, by name. Even as his body failed him, his mind remained sharp.

The last few years of his life, Grandpa was unhappy and that made me, and I'm sure the entire family, unhappy as well. Although his passing is very hard for his family, I know that he is much happier now. I am hopeful that today, although sad no matter what, can be a celebration of his long life and his large family.

I love you Grandpa and will miss you.
http://www.ericksonfuneralhome.com/darlington_obituaries.html#cline