Well it finally happened. The event that I had been expecting for quite some time has come. The Alero has finally crapped out on us. The car has been on suicide watch for a long time and has finally succeeded in taking its last gasp of air. I spent many hours trying to revive her, but to no avail.
Looks like we will be car hunting this weekend. Probably get either a Toyota Corolla or a Honda Civic.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Grandpa sans gallbladder
My Grandpa, C.F. Lopez, had his gallbladder removed yesterday. He was taken to the VA hospital in Albuquerque because he was experiencing some pretty bad stomach pain. The doctor's said it was his gallbladder and they cut it out. He is recovering and doing great. We were all pretty worried, due to all the recent health issues in our family circle (Emma, Big Papa). Here's to Grandpa and a speedy recovery!
Big Nana has gone digital!
My wife just informed me that Nana has acquired a digital camera. According to reports, she has taken about 900 pictures so far! I guess this means that the polaroid will get put away. I wonder what impact this will have on Polaroid's bottom line...
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Reflection...
Has it really been almost a month since I posted my last entry? I try to post as often as I can, but these last couple of weeks have been taxing on the entire family. My wife's Grandfather (Big Papa to us) passed away towards the end of January. Big Papa had been sick for quite a while. He has suffered from multiple health problems for years and spent the last part of his life pretty much bed ridden.
I have known Big Papa for almost five years. I met him shortly after Desiree and I started dating. I was really worried about meeting him and Big Nana because I didn't know how they would react to me marrying their Granddaughter. You see, I am almost 10 years older than Desiree, of different race, been married before, and have two kids (Genesis and Jacob) from my previous marriage. I wasn't entirely sure how they would react to meeting me, Genesis, and Jacob. I had formed various scenarios in my head on how they would react negatively to my presence in their home. I was just so sure that they would not be pleased with some "Mexican" marrying their Granddaughter. I was also pretty sure that they would not like the presence of my children either. I have never been more wrong in my entire life.
Not only did they accept me, but they also welcomed my children with open arms. I remember the first time Big Papa met Gen and Jake he said with a huge smile, "Look at those beautiful Grandbabies!" He then gave them a big hug. I also remember Big Nana asking me, "When are you going to marry this girl (Desiree) and make her an honest woman?" Then she brought out her Polaroid camera and started snapping pictures. Big Nana loves to take pictures. Lots of pictures. Big Papa used to say that the biggest mistake he ever made was buying Nana a camera many years ago. She will snap off several pictures at a moments notice. I feel that it is her way of preserving the memories.
Over the years when we would visit Jal, we would go see them at their house. Big Papa would be in his chair watching old westerns on TV. And since he was very hard of hearing, the volume on the TV would be full blast. It was very comical to watch everyone communicate at a very high volume in order to compete with the sound coming from the TV. And before we would leave, Big Nana would bring out the camera and snap a few more pictures of the family.
I remember him telling me about his younger days of Championship Bronc riding in the rodeo; traveling the country on the back of a horse; being a soldier in World War II; meeting the woman who would change his evil ways and bring him closer to God; raising children, farm animals, and pets; and the stories of a large bull that was like a pet to him.
As his health got worse you could see that he was waisting away. This big burly jovial man had become only a shell of his former self. But he never lost his sense of humor nor his ability to smile. When he passed away, I was very sad but I was happy at the same time. I was sad because he had left this earth, but I was happy because he would no longer be in pain nor would he be suffering.
I was honored to be one of the pallbearers at his funeral. As we laid him to rest, you couldn't help but sense his presence, almost a calming feeling. I guess he was letting us all know that he was in a better place and that he will be waiting for us when we get there...
Rest in Peace Andrew Eaker (AKA Big Papa)
I have known Big Papa for almost five years. I met him shortly after Desiree and I started dating. I was really worried about meeting him and Big Nana because I didn't know how they would react to me marrying their Granddaughter. You see, I am almost 10 years older than Desiree, of different race, been married before, and have two kids (Genesis and Jacob) from my previous marriage. I wasn't entirely sure how they would react to meeting me, Genesis, and Jacob. I had formed various scenarios in my head on how they would react negatively to my presence in their home. I was just so sure that they would not be pleased with some "Mexican" marrying their Granddaughter. I was also pretty sure that they would not like the presence of my children either. I have never been more wrong in my entire life.
Not only did they accept me, but they also welcomed my children with open arms. I remember the first time Big Papa met Gen and Jake he said with a huge smile, "Look at those beautiful Grandbabies!" He then gave them a big hug. I also remember Big Nana asking me, "When are you going to marry this girl (Desiree) and make her an honest woman?" Then she brought out her Polaroid camera and started snapping pictures. Big Nana loves to take pictures. Lots of pictures. Big Papa used to say that the biggest mistake he ever made was buying Nana a camera many years ago. She will snap off several pictures at a moments notice. I feel that it is her way of preserving the memories.
Over the years when we would visit Jal, we would go see them at their house. Big Papa would be in his chair watching old westerns on TV. And since he was very hard of hearing, the volume on the TV would be full blast. It was very comical to watch everyone communicate at a very high volume in order to compete with the sound coming from the TV. And before we would leave, Big Nana would bring out the camera and snap a few more pictures of the family.
I remember him telling me about his younger days of Championship Bronc riding in the rodeo; traveling the country on the back of a horse; being a soldier in World War II; meeting the woman who would change his evil ways and bring him closer to God; raising children, farm animals, and pets; and the stories of a large bull that was like a pet to him.
As his health got worse you could see that he was waisting away. This big burly jovial man had become only a shell of his former self. But he never lost his sense of humor nor his ability to smile. When he passed away, I was very sad but I was happy at the same time. I was sad because he had left this earth, but I was happy because he would no longer be in pain nor would he be suffering.
I was honored to be one of the pallbearers at his funeral. As we laid him to rest, you couldn't help but sense his presence, almost a calming feeling. I guess he was letting us all know that he was in a better place and that he will be waiting for us when we get there...
Rest in Peace Andrew Eaker (AKA Big Papa)
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