My Grandpa

I was only 3 when my Grandpa Foster died - I've heard many stories about him my whole life but I don't have any concrete memories of time spent with him. When I was eleven, my Grandmother married her daughter's father-in-law Elvin Ogren. (He was my Uncle Charles's father - Uncle Charles is married to my Dad's sister Carol.) Over the years there were all kinds of family jokes about the infamous song "I'm my own Grandpa" and it certainly did make for some interesting family connections. But, what it meant to me is that I had another Grandfather.

My "step" Grandpa never treated me like a "step" Grandaughter and to me he was never "step" anything - he was just "Grandpa". When I was 15, Grandma and Grandpa came for one of their annual visits but this time my younger brother John and I got to ride back to California with them in their Winnebago motorhome. They took us to Gilroy convention and we got to spend time with our cousins and make new friends. It was a trip I'll never forget. Grandma and Grandpa were always there for every special event - highschool and college graduations, our wedding (photo above on August 1st, 1998) and many visits in between. Even in the last few years with his health failing rapidly, Grandpa would inquire about us and how we were doing.

I have many happy memories of visits to Grandpa & Grandma's home in Castro Valley, CA - this was the home Grandpa Foster built and my Dad and his two sisters grew up in. When Grandpa O & Grandma got married they added on a master bedroom and some to the basement. Grandpa was a carpenter and it seemed like he could build most anything. Once when I visited - Grandpa must have been 80 by then - he was building a new barn on the lower part of the property...he and Grandma had lots of health problems over the years but they never let it slow them down even when we all wished they would be a little more constrained in their activities. I loved spending time there and visiting with my Grandparents - they had so many stories to tell. Grandma died in February 2 years ago - I still have days when I wish I could call her and visit a while. Grandpa died last Sunday, April 13th. His funeral will be Thursday the 24th near Sacramento, CA.

Grandpa was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne during World War II. He didn't like to talk much about it but when I was studying French in high school and college he tried out some of his rusty French on me from his WWII days and was a little chagrined when I knew what he was saying! Grandpa also taught wood shop in the CA prison system and had interesting stories to tell about his days working with prisoners. Some of my favorite stories were of his teenage years riding the rails to get around Southern Idaho. I can't begin to capture the depth and color of all of his stories - fortunately, I was able to get many of them on tape during three different "interviews" with him and Grandma. If any of my cousins are reading this - I promise I will work on getting these converted to CD and copies made for everyone.

The last time I saw Grandpa was in December on our way home from taking Nick & Ari to their Grandmother's home near LA. We stopped in Chico and were able to catch up with Grandpa while he waited for his dialysis treatment. At first I couldn't tell if he recognized me but before we left I could tell he knew it was me. I'm so glad for those last few moments with him and that glimmer of recognition but what I will hold dear in my heart are all of the years he was my Grandpa - all of the "how are you's", hugs and "I love you's". I'll miss you Grandpa, we weren't related by blood but you were my real Grandpa.

The photo below is from our stop to see Grandpa in December - we've both changed in the 10 years since the photo at the top but please do keep in mind that these are my travel grubbies on the way home from one of the more emotionally challenging life events. I promise I'm not always that haggard looking! (sorry a little vanity in action)