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bae
5-6-12, 6:29pm
I just came across these photos while reorganizing some files.

About 12 years ago, I took my 3 year old daughter across the country to see her grandfather, she hadn't seen him since she was ~1.

During the trip, she charmed the poor guy's socks off him. Grandpa passed away just a few years ago. He was a hard man, a WWII vet who had such a bad time during the war that he barely ever left his home county once he returned. He was an old-school rural postman, and breeding/raising/training hunting hounds was his passion.

In the nearby town, there was a merry-go-round, which we wandered into. My daughter was addicted, and rode it happily for a long time:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8SwTvEbGtXY/T6bxDl7C-dI/AAAAAAAAFTA/1uqRPz5xfdQ/s640/111-1157_IMG.JPG

My grandfather was never ever known to do anything light-hearted. He was a very kind, but very serious fellow.

My daughter looked at him with her big eyes, and said "Grandpa, come ride the horsies with me!"

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SQCjuM0GtrI/T6byL8ooSqI/AAAAAAAAFVo/db18tLuBMH8/s640/111-1178_IMG.JPG


So off he went.


Now, Grandpa probably had been riding horses since before he could walk, when he was suspecting he was becoming unable to drive the year he died, he was talking about going back to using horses. However, a carousel was something....different....and concerning....


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-w6VsslOPduk/T6byV4qMUwI/AAAAAAAAFWA/AIXhL3C_kBE/s640/111-1181_IMG.JPG



https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3SnEgkmBTCM/T6byPbGis2I/AAAAAAAAFVw/QCm-UjRioCM/s640/111-1179_IMG.JPG

He got the hang of it though:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KvjcNaA13Wg/T6byZU13KRI/AAAAAAAAFWI/pC7CLjQhIUM/s640/111-1182_IMG.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BNnQCl7Q31s/T6byIqrJRJI/AAAAAAAAFVg/EO8GcUbpAp0/s640/111-1177_IMG.JPG


The two of them then spent about an hour racing horses :-)

Tradd
5-6-12, 6:32pm
:D

Old fellow looks like he was enjoying himself, almost against his own will! :P

Tussiemussies
5-6-12, 6:35pm
Oh how sweet to see him there smiling! Your daughter is adorable...

danna
5-6-12, 7:13pm
They are both adorable.........there is nothing like being a grandparent
All the pride and fun without the responsibility...

Zoebird
5-6-12, 7:23pm
That's just lovely, Bae. Thank you for sharing. :)

treehugger
5-6-12, 7:42pm
That's a very nice photo essay that makes me miss my own grandparents dearly. Thanks for sharing that with us.

Kara

razz
5-6-12, 7:46pm
Wait until your heart melts as a granpa as well. It is amazing how different the experience turns out to be. Lovely photos!

ctg492
5-7-12, 8:05am
Thanks for the wonderful thoughts today.

peggy
5-7-12, 8:48am
What a cutie your daughter is. A lovely photo memory of her, your grandfather, and Santa all racing ponies!

Mrs-M
5-7-12, 12:34pm
What a warm and loving photo memory.

dado potato
5-7-12, 7:17pm
There's a picture of a livin' doll... and what a great day for the man on the carousel!

leslieann
5-7-12, 7:31pm
Just made me smile....

frugal-one
5-7-12, 8:56pm
Lovely memory!

fidgiegirl
5-7-12, 10:31pm
Loved it!

Is Grandpa YOUR Grandpa, or her Grandpa?

bae
5-7-12, 11:17pm
Good point, it's my grandpa, her great-grandpa :-)

lizii
5-8-12, 2:44am
They are both adorable.........there is nothing like being a grandparent
All the pride and fun without the responsibility...

Me too!

Sissy
5-8-12, 1:09pm
What wonderful memories. Grandchildren do that to you without even knowing it. They sneak up and blind side you! :+1:

lmerullo
5-8-12, 2:42pm
Thank you for sharing this - such a beautiful memory.

mtnlaurel
5-8-12, 4:18pm
I loved it too. Thank you for sharing it with us. It warmed my heart!

mira
5-8-12, 5:05pm
That's so lovely; made me well up a bit! What a sap I am.

Wildflower
5-8-12, 9:11pm
Precious photos, precious memories.

Nothing more special in this life than time spent with grandkids and great-grandkids.....in my opinion anyway. :)