A Doorknob Makes a Good Hammer
Grandpa and his watermelons, circa. 1915
“So is this grandpa’s ‘golden golden’ birthday then?” My son looked up from his pre-calculus textbook at the kitchen table.
“A hundred and four on the fourth. I guess it would be,” I answered.
My grand-dad celebrates his 104th birthday today in Minneapolis. I’m missing it because I don’t want to be credited with passing on to him whatever infectious crud has taken my legs today.
Every year, Grandpa Al gives his Birthday Speech. Usually an hour long, it features jokes, stories and sage advice from one who’s seen over a hundred years worth of the ongoing cycle of personal and cultural progress and decline. And it always includes head-scratching expressions like “a doorknob makes a good hammer, if you can’t find a screwdriver.”
I’ll miss hearing that speech and taking part in the highly competitive Willingham Pun and Sarcasm Festival. So I pulled up this audio clip of Grandpa telling one of my favorite stories from his teenage years.
Happy birthday, Grandpa. We love you.
(RSS or email subscribers, click through to listen to the audio.)
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More on my grand-dad:
The Chicken Story
The Chicken Story (II)
The Chicken Story (III)
Dixie Cups on the Counter
Oh, I love this. If I’d known you couldn’t go, I could have gone in your place.
Happy birthday, Grandpa!
2012/03/04 at 10:15 AM
What a treasure! 104….I’m trying to imagine the changes he’s seen in his lifetime, and it makes my head spin.
I’ll join Sandra in wishing him a happy birthday!
Hope you’re better soon, Lyla.
2012/03/04 at 10:48 AM
So sorry you’re sick, Lyla. And kudos to you for getting this story on tape – wish I had more from my grandmother and her sister – who lived to be 101 and 102, respectively. Take care of yourself and get those legs back under you.
“A huffin’ and a puffin’…” pretty much describes life as we know it, eh?
This story is fabulous! Would love to have known Uncle Val – thinkin’ on his feet was he.
2012/03/04 at 11:53 AM
This is just about the sweetest thing. Happy birthday, grandpa. What a gift you are. Feel better soon, Ly.
2012/03/04 at 12:10 PM
my computer is slooooooow tonight…i will have to watch this later.
2012/03/04 at 9:41 PM
Smiling here, Lyla.
So sorry you couldn’t go this time. Are you feeling better today? Wish I could travel north with some chicken-noodle soup.
2012/03/05 at 1:19 PM
So your sarcasm, it’s genetic?
And is he Irish? I hear something in there.
Seriously, though, I laughed out loud during the story. My puppies looked up from their naps in the sun to see what all the fuss was.
As to your comment on my daughter, yes, birthday EVE says it all. What it says is open to interpretation.
2012/03/05 at 3:17 PM
I’ve been thinking a lot about the legacy I want to leave — and a life well lived is near the top. Please pass on birthday greetings and thanks for the model of living well that he is!
2012/03/05 at 5:26 PM