The Picture Made Me Do It

When I was growing up I spent a lot of time with my Grandparents. Some of my favorite memories have something to do with my Grandma and Grandpa. They were two of the most interesting people I've known. A lot of who I am is because of them. My Grandma was very funny and she never thought it was an inappropriate time for a joke. If it was funny, it was funny and you should just say it. So now all the people who know me now know who to blame. She taught me my first magic trick and that is why to this day I love to do magic tricks. My Grandfather always had something interesting to say. He taught me honesty early on. I guess it was due to the fact that he was a loss investigator at a bank. Hmmm, I work at a bank. Anyway.....one of the first lessons in honesty he taught me was about being honest with yourself. I was sitting at the dining room table one day when I was 5 or 6 and I was tracing a Bob's Big Boy comic book panel and my Grandfather made me stop. He told me that tracing was cheating and that I should learn to do the draw something by just looking at it. That is why I draw today and because I love drawing is why I've always remembered that story. You never forget your first love and drawing was mine. Even though they have been gone now for a while at least I had Colleen and William as Grandparents and they are still with me everyday in everything I do and in everything I am. My one regret growing up is that I never took many pictures with my Grandparents and that is why I take a lot of pictures of my family members now. So when I look at the picture of my son and nephew with their Grandmother I wonder what part they will take from her and incorporate into their lives. All I know is that I look forward to watching them grow, watching them hug their Grandmother and, hopefully, get plenty of pictures of it all. As I said, I had Colleen and William to help make me who I am and I am so happy that my son and my nephew have Lynnette to do the same for them. Anyway, that's what came to my head when I looked at this picture and I had to tell someone. Go give your Grandparents a hug in person, over the phone or the computer and if they're gone, do it in your dreams.

Have Fun!

Ambrose

Originally posted on facebook - (8/8/2009)