My Grandfather, Poppa Sye.

Vacation? What’s that? I haven’t had a vacation in over year. Yeah sure I’ve had time off from work, due to whatever new illness hits the block. But not a vacation. Anywhoo. My mom and dad ARE on vacation. That leaves my 86 year old grandpa alone. And probably hungry.

(Remember Happy Thanks-Taking (a vacation)…. last year?) This year I am on Fourth of July detail.

Whenever my mom and dad go away it is my pleasure to assume the position of watching over Poppa Sye. I check on him, stop by the house, I call him to see if he needs anything. I even make sure that he is entertained. I take pride in having that responsibility. It is one of the many reasons I choose to live in the same complex as my mom and dad. I love my family. Family to me is the most important thing in the world. I cherish every moment I can get with my family.

Now, Poppa Sye doesn’t cook. He never has, he’s like me in that respect. I have no idea what I am doing in a kitchen. My grandmother who passed away last mothers’ day was the chef supreme. No one needed to cook when she was around. Don’t get me wrong, Poppa Sye, can make a mean peanut butter and banana sandwich, but nothing of substance. He either goes out to eat, or my parents (well my dad) do all the cooking.

My grandfather is also the kindest, most thoughtful person, on the planet. He is the definition of a gentleman. I wanted to do something special for him, since he is always doing something special for all of us. I love him so much and who knows how much longer he will be here with us. While I can, I try to get in as much one on one time as I can with him.

I decided to invite Poppa Sye for dinner at my house. Of course once my girlfriend Jennifer caught wind that Poppa Sye would be coming over for dinner, she wanted to come over too. She loves Poppa Sye. (who doesn’t?) I was going to make pork chops and mashed potatoes (because that is the only meal I know how to make) but, now that there would be 6 guests instead of the original 3 people, Jennifer refused to let me try to cook. (good call).

Poppa Sye arrived first. He came bearing gifts for everyone. A box of my favorite tea, a DVD for Jennifer and Wilson, a toy doll for Chloe and a magnifying glass for JCH. Like I said, grandpa is the definition of a gentleman. He would never show up to a dinner party without first taking into consideration who would be there and what he could do for them.

While we waited for the others to show up who were running late because they were in a fake armed robbery (long story, another time). Grandpa wanted to know all about how my writing was going. My grandfather and grandmother have been my two biggest supporters since I was 17 and started taking writing more seriously. Poppa Sye wanted to know how was my book coming along? And what’s with all these websites I have? We sat on the sofa talking while I filled him in with all the details and showed him Momma Mia and Melevision. He was so impressed and so proud of me. He kept telling me how smart I am, and how much work all this must take, and how do I do it all? “You are amazing,” he kept telling me. I think my favorite moment was watching his face light up as he looked at all my pages and kept saying “Oh my…. Oh my, look at this! Look at that!” while pointing to pictures and posts. He was beaming.

At 7pm, Jennifer, Chloe, Wilson, showed up with 4 big bags of food. Chicken, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, string beans, grilled vegetables, macaroni and cheese, apple pie, enough to feed a navel base. After some food preparation, Jennifer, Chloe, Wilson, Poppa Sye, JCH and I all sat down for what was the most wonderful last minuet spur of the moment unplanned dinner party in honor of Poppa Sye.

The food was great; the weather was great, even the conversation was excellent. Wilson and Poppa Sye talked about golf (they both have an unbelievable passion for golf). The kids got along with each other (having grown up together you’d think they’d get along more often, but they treat each other like siblings rather than friends, which usually causes more arguments than good times). Jennifer and I made Poppa Sye laugh, hard, out loud, time and time again cracking our sick jokes. Poppa Sye was smiling the whole time. The whole time. Usually at functions like this he wears a scowl on his face. Even though Poppa Sye is a sweetheart, he is a also a very serious man. It brings me such joy to see him smile. Really smile.

When things were all said and done, I walked Poppa Sye down the 4 flights of stairs back to his car. He gave me the biggest hug and thanked me for having such a great night. He even called me twenty minuets later when he got home to tell me one more time just how much he enjoyed the evening and to thank me again.

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[PS…Is anyone else? Absolutely Fabulous!]

About Meleah

Mother. Writer. Television Junkie. Pajama Jean Enthusiast.
This entry was posted in Family, Friends, Holidays. Bookmark the permalink.

21 Responses to My Grandfather, Poppa Sye.

  1. Oh I LOVE Poppa Sye.
    What an adorable and charming gentleman he is.
    Please tell him the Minx thinks he’s positively and deliriously gorgeous and that I have sent him a big kiss XXX. No, three…

    I think it’s wonderful that you look after him like you do, Meleah x
    There is something so precious about taking care of our elderly members of society and respecting and loving them in their Autumn years.
    You are so beautiful. XOX

  2. Dazd says:

    Wow…this post brings back some fond memories om my grandmother. I am glad you spent a wonderful evening surrounded by people you love and adore.

    And Poppa Sye does not look 86 years old. And from your writing, he is a gentleman of the old world. Not many left in this day and age.

  3. marsha says:

    aaahhhh!!! that is so sweet…I’m glad you all had a good time…give Poppa Sye a hug from me.

  4. Meleah says:

    Minx: I will most certainly give him your kisses!!! He will LOVE them, having shown him your site, he is already taken by you!

    Dazd: I know, Poppa Sye is ONE OF A KIND. (it was a great day)

    Marsha: Thank you. I will!

  5. Mike says:

    Now THAT sounds like a nice 4th of July! I’m out sick today and while reading this it just reminded me I forgot to take the extra food from my cookout out of my backpack!! Thanks!

  6. Meleah says:

    Mike: Where have you been! No blogging? No emails? I was wondering what happened to you. Glad to see you back!

  7. HollyGL says:

    Oh, Mereb, he is just precious. I’m so glad that you realize now how important he is to you. I was like that with my Grammy. So many people get so caught up in life, and forget to attend to these special folks, only to be sorry later when they’re not around.

  8. What a lovely post, Meleah!
    Btw, I notice something… did Poppa Sye iron his shirt? It looked so tidy and smart on him. Oh I love man who irons his own shirts 🙂

  9. Meleah says:

    Holly: I love my family so much. Poppa Sye is sooo sweet. I do treasure all of these moments. I take so many photos and videos, so that me (and the rest of my family) will be able to look at long after ……

    RMH: Yes he did. Yes he does. (and he usually wears suspenders and a sports jacket) We finally got him to wear sneakers (tennis shoes) THIS SUMMER. He was still wearing dress shoes everyday like he was going to an office. *so cute*

  10. someGirl says:

    Oh Meleah, how you made me think of my father. All four of my grandparents are now gone, but my dad is turning 76 this year…and I worry so much about him— more like I worry about the family without him. And my father is so similar to Poppa Sye [very serious during social occasions but always a gentleman, NEVER arrives empty handed] I had a tumultuous relationship with both of my parents for as long as I can remember, and now all I think about is how much I need them, and how much my bambinos need them…You have a whole following that is as proud of you as Poppa Sye. Lovely post.

  11. Bloggrrl says:

    Wow, what an absolutely fabulous post. He looks and sounds like the wonderful person you say he is. Somehow the pictures and the writing totally match.

  12. Meleah says:

    SomeGirl: I am sorry for the loss of your grandparents. I didn’t always get along with my family. I was outcast for several years. I wasn’t allowed to any family functions, I wasn’t even invited to my mom and (step) dads wedding. I didn’t speak to my mother for over a YEAR. But, that time apart taught me just how important they ARE. not just to me but to my son as well. Thank you for your lovely words.

    Bloggrrl: Yeah, he ROCKS!

  13. paisley says:

    i am so jealous… my family has never been close and i wish it wasn’t that way… i am so jealous of people that have actually grown up with their family,, we kind of make it in spite of each other…….

    what a wonderful memory……

  14. Meleah says:

    Don’t be jealous!

    We did NOT grow up “together as a family.” But we are here now.

  15. Goldy says:

    Poppa Sye drives???!

  16. Dawn says:

    I’m with Paisley….I’m jealous! Never knew any of my Grandfathers. But if I could choose one….I’d have one just like yours! He seems absolutely perfect 🙂

  17. Meleah says:

    Dawn & Paisley: Now I feel all bad for the both of you. 🙁
    —-
    Goldy: well, yes, he drives (but thats a relative term) he drives inside a residential complex, at the daring speeds of 10-15mph, and… only from my parents house (where he lives) to my house which is .0001 miles away.

  18. paisley says:

    i just read the thanks taking post… i laughed my ass off… i just love ev.. she is a ball buster… they dont have that kinda spunk over here in california… i miss those balsy east coast women!!!!!!!

  19. Meleah says:

    PAISLEY!!!

    EV is my HERO. She is MY FUCKING HERO. I cant wait to be 82 years old and behave JUST LIKE THAT!
    I have an ENTIRE blog of ALL EVELYN movies. (look over in the sidebar “everyone needs a little evelyn”) There are NINE videos all together. You will PEE IN YOUR PANTS.

    But wait! There’s MORE! There is a poppa sye MOVIE!

    (THIS WAS THE FIRST “MOVIE/VIDEO” I EVER MADE… (and it was the second week I owned this MAC) I had no idea how to use it. MANY apologies for the REALLY bad editing…Since I had no idea “how to” edit…also, there is one “scene” when the movie was still running and I didn’t know…I meant to cut the clip but it kept recording…so,there will be BLACK screen with commentary ONLY…(there is very poor sound quality, especially during the blacked out scene) but I do say, “I will keep this family together even if I have to do it over the internet.” The black screen is up for a few moments, but then the movie returns…anyway this movie is for MY FAMILY (especially since my MOM and DAD were AWAY in FLA and COULDN’T SEE US….unless they came onto my website. Clearly I am not dressed / made up for a video appearance, but… who cares…)

    and you all get to see HOW shocking and LOUD my horrible voice sounds

    **** The Poppa SYE movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16E5pN_nn5E

    (ps… Paisley, you can have / share MY FAMILY….) 🙂

    pps…. I am jealous of the way you write.

  20. Ricardo says:

    A fake armed robbery. LOL! Glad everyone made it in and he does like like an incredible guy.

  21. JENNIFER says:

    Dear Poppa Sye,

    You are wonderful, and sweet.
    The true meaning of gentleman.
    I am so happy to know you and love you and make you smile.
    I am honored to sit at your table, you are a special person.
    You did so much for Meleah in her lifetime you have no idea.
    YOu mean so much to her….and she tells me often.

    We love you and thank you again for being the wonderful man that you are.

    xo
    jen & chloe

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