This is a post about the man standing behind all of these snot-nosed kids! His name is George Edward DeWitt Jr and he was my grandfather. To his friends, he was called George. His brothers and sisters called him June (short for Junior). The parents of those kids in the picture called him Dad but to us, he was Grampy!
I'm pretty sure this photo was taken on his birthday. I'm almost sure this was the best, if not only, picture he had taken with the majority of his grandchildren. Truth be told, I think the only other time we all gathered like this was at his funeral.
I loved my Grampy! I'm pretty sure I inherited his twisted sense of humor. Every time I learned a new joke, he was the first person I wanted to tell it to. Sometimes, he would ask me to write the joke out so he could tell it to someone else. More often than not, he would get me to tell it to them. I still remember his laugh after a really good joke!
Besides a great joke, he loved his sports! He was a die hard Toronto fan. In the summer, he television was always tuned into the Jays' games. In the winter, it was the Leafs, with a sprinkling of the Argonauts here and there. He passed on before the Raptors came into existence, but I'm sure he would have found time for them.
He could talk sports with the best of them. Caleb reminds me of him in that manner!
Grampy was a person I admired and respected. His opinion mattered to me. I always wanted to make him proud and, in some weird way, I still do. I wished he could have asked Melissa the dreaded "And WHAT are your intentions with my grandson?" question. I know he would have asked to name Meagan "Penelope Candice" for the simple fact he wanted to call her "Penny Candy!"
I loved spending time with him! Every chance I had to stay at his place, I did! Maybe Mom and Dad were trying to get rid of me, but I didn't care. I think I spent most of my spring breaks and long weekends with him. He was one of my heroes!
I miss you, Grampy!
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