Day 15

Day 15: a letter to someone you wish you could meet

Dear Grandpa George,

I'm your great granddaughter. Your grandson Scott's my dad. I grew up on stories of you and I just think you are so cool. My favorite story is the one where you were in a tractor that fell into a river and you heard a prompting to reach up. You did and were able to grab the steering wheel which allowed you to pull yourself up enough to get your nose out of the water so you wouldn't die. I also really like the one where one of the high councilmen in your stake presidency was sleeping so you proposed he buy everyone ice cream, which you then called to a sustaining vote which passed unanimously, including the vote by the man, who woke up just in time to raise his hand with the rest of the men. I also fully appreciate you making my dad and uncles pee on the electric fence.

My dad really looks up to you. I think he misses you a lot. You died when he was 19. You were a patriarch and had promised to give him his patriarchal blessing, but died before you could. My dad says that when he got his blessing, he felt two sets of hands on his head and felt like he could hear you talking. He has your rocking chair in his office, complete with the marks where you rubbed your thumbs and the wood is now indented. Whenever he's got something hard to think about, he goes and sits in his chair and rubs those thumbprints. He also keeps your copy of the Book of Mormon on his table in his office at home. Your memory and legacy provide him with a lot of strength and courage.

When I was a little girl, my parents told me about how my mom was in active labor with me for 12 hours. They teased me by saying, "You just didn't want to come yet. You were too busy playing another round of spoons with Grandpa George." I hope that's true - I hope we hung out before I made my grand appearance here. And, I hope that I live in such a way that we can have a spoons rematch one day. Like my dad, I also really look up to you and I know that I wouldn't be who I am without you being you and influencing both my grandma and my dad.

When we meet, I hope I get to ask you to tell me Grandpa George stories. I think it'd be really cool to hear them from the mouth of the man. I also hope you'll let me give you a really big hug and then have a group hug with me, you, and my dad.

Love your great granddaughter,
Jessica