My Memories

Pulling weeds wasn't my ideal summer activity, but mom saw it fit for Landon and I to help Grandpa out in the orchard. As for specific memories go of mine and Landon's weed picking days go, it is hard to recall specific instances. As it has been stated already on this blog that many of our memories of Grandpa aren't life altering and they seem to just "be there".

So I guess I will spill out my memories of Grandpa. Landon and I would be at Grandpa's house in the early morning, because we wanted to beat the afternoon sun. Grandpa could be found out in the orchard on his scooter with Rosie (sp?) right behind. Grandpa would tell me and Landon waht jobs to tend to and he would monitor our efforts during the day. I would be on my hands and knees tending to a hole in the drip system and I would be trying with all my might to get the rid into the small hole with the pliers, but sure enough, Grandpa would say, "Mitchell, if you turn the pliers 45 degress, the rod would go in much easier", and sure enough, he was right. Grandpa would sit on his scooter and point to each week with his cane and say, "Mitchell, my stars, look at that weed right there!" So off I would go to chop down another weed. I didn't enjoy those long summer days, but I enjoyed spending the time with my brother and my Grandpa.

When my dad moved away to Farmington I was in the 7th grade. He left me and Landon with my mom and Chelsie was at CEU. Chelsie had her college life and things to tend to, and Landon was too cool to stay home, so that left me at home with my mom. I would see her alone when I would go to Kari's house for the evening, and it hurt me. I didn't like knowing that my mom was home alone while I was out with my friends. So I took it upon myself to be home with her. We never had much to do so we started going over to Grandpa's house. We would go over during the week and have dinner together, we would make trips to Wal-Mart, we would go on rides up to the mountains, we went to Scofield Days, and many other little trips here and there. Meanwhile, during all of this, I remember my mom saying that she was left alone with Grandpa when Grandma Nell dies. My mom would stay at home with Grandpa because she was the baby of the family and she didn't enjoy knowing that Grandpa was home alone while she was out with friends. I feel very fortunate that I was able to spend those years "hanging out" with my mom and my Grandparents.

I remember all of those times that my mom would leave Emery County and to to Farmington to deal with things with my dad, and I would have to stay at Grandpa's house. On those Saturdays, Grandpa would take me out in the truck and we would go for a drive up to the mountains. Just like my mom, I would ask questions. When I spent the night and when it came time for dinner, I remember always having toast with whatever we ate. I remember the smell of the bread drawer. Lastly, the biggest thing I remember was having a Grandpa. Having a Grandpa who taught me, cared for me, and above all else, loved me.