Good times.

                          
I finally sorted through the pictures from my grandma's party, and before giving them back to her, I wanted to share a few of my favorites... and introduce my grandpa into the mix.

I'm pressed for time this morning, and have so much more that I want to say about these two - especially my grandpa, who I haven't raved about yet, as I did with my grandma.  But I'll save those stories for another day, and leave it at this...

My grandparents were like my second parents.  I stayed with them often, went on vacation with them, waited anxiously for them to pick me up from the baby-sitter's- or preschool, went to work with them, and loved them with all my heart.  And still do.

           

Their marriage, like any other, was a mixture of happiness and affliction, and unfortunately towards the later years- the years that I had the pleasure of knowing them- affliction seemed to prevail.  Alcoholism reared it's ugly head- most likely for the entire duration of their marriage, but as ugly it was in the glory years, it was even more atrocious during the "golden" age.  As much as I saw him as the best grandfather on the entire planet, he often wore a different hat with my grandmother.  An unexpected early retirement, combined with an empty nest, symbolized old age- which never seemed to suit this charismatic, forever-young-at-heart, machismo.  His days of packing his 5 kids in the car and spontaneously heading into the mountains were long gone.  The early morning commutes to his L.A. barber shop were just particles of dust in the wind.  He was limited.  And he and Limits didn't get along so well.  

Shortcomings aside, they stayed together until my grandpa passed away, a few years back.  He loved her to death, and never failed to tell us how lucky we are to have her in our lives... or how we must take care of her when he is gone.  Sitting at the head of the table, he'd devote his long toasts to her time and time again, tears in his eyes, and a lump in his throat.  Like I said, their journey- a bit rocky, to say the least- included plenty of good times too.  

And that's why these pictures make me happy.

{wedding}

  

{love}

{the diner}

*Nostalgia at its finest.

   

{cuties}

  

{family fun}

*My grandpa's sister is on the far right.

        

{cover girl}

{style'n}

{5 generations}

*That sure is a cute baby. =)

   

  
So much for being "short" this morning.  Happy Friday all.