Pool shark, that is.
Back in the old days, when my parents were still around, my cute little daddy surprised us all speechless, when he up and bought a pool table. We never knew he was even interested in a pool table. In fact, when I was dating a very handsome boy–who shall remain forever nameless–back in high school, there were only a few rules beyond, “Behave yourself.” They went something like this–
1) Come home the same night you went out.
2) Never get on a motorcycle–with anyone.
3) Do not, under any circumstances enter a pool hall with some guy.
So a few years later, what does he do? He tows a real live pool table into the basement and promptly becomes…
a shark.
Seriously. He beat everyone–
except my mom…because he let her cheat.
One day he and Lyndi were going downstairs to “have a game” and I said, “So, is my daughter going into a pool hall with some guy?”
He said, “Naw, I’m not some guy. I’m some grampa. Don’t you worry. If I see some guys I’ll throw ’em out.” He was grinning big now, and said, “Well, at least it isn’t a motorcycle. You know how I feel about motorcycles.”
Then he laughed his head off.
Dad…dad.
Oooooh…I do miss that laugh.
Oh. SWEET GRANDPA. I think about him all the time. It was fun to hear his laugh. I’ll always remember the time when he said, “hold on to your cotton pickin’ pea hats! We’re goin’ for a ride!”Haha! Lyndi does too I’m sure! I Love you grandpa!
I did not know that story. How fun! I am horrible at pool.
Oh… I miss him too. He really and truly had a sparkle in his eye like I haven’t really seen in anyone else. That loving, mischievous, sweet twinkle. We were lucky to have such an amazing Grandpa around as long as we did! 🙂
Yeah, that goofy line does get quoted now and then around here. What the heck does it even MEAN? He was such a nut. Whenever we talk about him–I swear, I can just hear him laugh, like he’s right there.
OH, I remember that!!! We were turning left, real hard and real fast, to beat a light somewhere! 😉
I also remember that you took that picture! 😉
Believe it or not, I’m actually quite…good–if I do say so myself. Probably from all those years of hanging out with the guys in pool halls! HA!
Just kidding–in fact, I remember going into a restaurant with that same nameless guy and seeing a pool table off to the side. I froze in the doorway and told him we’d have to eat somewhere else because, “I promised my dad…”
He had to do some pretty fast talking to convince me that it was a rec room and not a pool hall. Funny.
We were doing a gingerbread appointment and lyndi and I were going with him. We were all jammed up front that white car and grandpa turned hard. He said that when he turned. After we all done laughing our guts out I told grandpa, “you know grandpa, we’re never going to forget that. ” He just did his, happy giggly smile. His eyes did twinkle didn’t they?!?
I was there too. 🙂
AND we get to keep him–all of us—forever. That’s the best part.
I don’t know if I was there the first time that happened… but I was there for one of the times. Cried so hard while laughing my stomach hurt 🙂
“Now dear…” is probably how he really started his answer to your accusation 😉
Love it!! He must have been some dad for you growing up!! You were so lucky to have someone like him who loved you so much!
Oh, mannnn. That’s what he would say alright.
:}
Ooooh he was a wonderful fellow. It’s a funny planet without him.