Paisley's Men

I never had a grandfather in my life, but I have witnessed the effect that they have on their grandchildren.  The Big Guy was extremely close to his grandpa; a wonderful, silver haired man in lace up boots and inky-blue bib overalls. When The Big Guy was just a Little Guy, he taught him about farming, tractors, land, auctions, and how to strike a good deal. He also helped him buy his first truck. It has been more than 20 years ago since he passed away, but to this day, Big still starts a lot of his sentences with, “My grandpa used to…” These are life lessons that are embedded so deep within him that they can never be forgotten.

When I see Paisley and The Big Guy together I am reminded of how important grandfathers are. I already know that he will teach her to drive a backhoe, tie a bowline and shift a 13 speed transmission. His big hands are the ones that will never spank her. They are the ones that will lift her up on horse or into the cab of a semi. They will wrap around her to steady a rifle that’s pointed at a pop can and they will help her open countless candy and ice cream bars.

Paisley is blessed enough to have four grandfathers who will leave an imprint on her. When she is a toddler her arms will reach up to Grandpa Kim so she can be picked up to see over an arena fence or a sea of cowboy hats.

As a little girl, her small fingers will meet up with crooked ones as they wrap around a golf club so Grandpa Joe can show her how to putt. She will hand him the wrong golf club for the wrong hole but he will take the shot anyway, knowing that she doesn't know the difference between a wood and a 9 iron. 

Later, her small hands won’t be able to stop themselves from pressing a shiny, cool rock to her cheek as she becomes fascinated by her Grandpa Pete’s polished rocks. The same rocks will fill pockets and then later find their way into the washing machine, for which Granpa Pete will take the blame. 

They will curve around the steering wheel of a truck, a boat or some other big piece of equipment, as she sits on the lap of her Grandpa Big and recklessly spins it one direction, then the other. When she is older she will hold the elbow of all these men and help to steady them as they make their way up or down stairs, a hall, a church or a short sidewalk. These men will be wrapped around her finger.

Besides her daddy, these four men will be the most important men in her life for at least the first decade of it. The imprint she leaves on their lives will be like a good scar—the kind that makes you smile at the recollection of how you earned it; a permanent reminder of a joyride taken in years gone by.
     If you are fortunate enough to still have a grandfather in your life, call him or go give him a hug.

This is Rachel Ray's recipe for "Grandpa's Braised Beef." I personally have not made this recipe, but it's looks like Sunday dinner at the grandparents house. Go to the "Recipes" tab at the top of this page to view it.