DD2

Today's dedication is devoted to my grandparents, Harold and Marie Hoffman. These were my dad's parents. When I was a child, they lived in Clearwater, Fla., just about 20 miles south of where we lived, close to Tampa. But they originally lived in New York, in a little spot called Mineola.

My grandfather, born Harold Bertrand Hoffman, was the grandson of Carlo Alberto Cappa, a military composer and musician who moved to the States from Northern Italy. Somewhere along the way, one of his children married a Hoffman - thus the German name. My grandmother, born Marie Katherine Gorman (I'm pretty sure that was her last name), was the daughter of an Irish man and an Italian woman. *note, I am going from memory on this but I do have the documentation at home*

Anyway, I was not only enamored of my grandparents but their rich history as well, so that's why I am including it. My grandparents raised their children in New York, sending them to Catholic schools, being the devout followers of the religion that they were. They had four boys and one girl. My dad was the fourth child (again, I think). Shortly following my grandfather's death, we were sent a family video that included footage from when my dad was just a baby. My grandfather was always silly with us, but after watching the video, I fully understand why my dad was such a great dad. My grandfather, or "Grump" as we called him - not because he was grumpy but because we couldn't say grandpa when we were little, would apparently dress up and put on shows for his children. He would be a villain out to get the only little girl and some of the older boys would have to rescue her with their toy guns and cowboy hats. It's quite a site to see. He was always playing tricks on my grandmother as well.

When I was between the ages of 3 and 6, we visited my grandparents at their house in Clearwater just about every weekend. This was my favorite thing to do EVER!!! Over there, we could play, be ourselves and eat the best snacks in the world. These snacks included fresh peaches, Pecan Sandies, peanut butter and raisin sandwiches and pretty much any other fruit our little hearts desired (it was Florida, fresh fruit was everywhere). Going to their house also meant we could spend the night in the room with the two twin beds where there were maracas sitting on the dresser. We could play around with the ukulele and mandolin and climb the massive tree out back. My grandmother and I would play several rounds of Go Fish. We'd have spaghetti for dinner, and I got to sit in a special chair just for me (Actually all the kids had once sat in it. It was high like a high chair only without the tray in the front.)

Grump would also take us fishing, although he really didn't drive too much. The man walked all the time, swam a couple times a week and sang in the choir at church. His voice was the most beautiful voice I have every heard!



When I was about 6 years old, we moved to Tennessee. I was not happy! We still visited my grandparents for a couple of years during vacation but it wasn't the same as getting to see them every weekend. When I was about 10, my grandmother got Alzheimer's and couldn't remember us when we came for a visit. I had to teach her how to play Go Fish again... not fun! Shortly after, she passed away. We weren't allowed to go see the body during the wake (thank God! Mom made a good decision there!). But during the funeral, my dad just sobbed. It was the only time I ever saw him cry. It was then that I knew she was even more special than I had thought.

Not too long after that, my grandfather sold their house and car and moved to Arizona to be with two of his sons. When I was about 12, he came to visit us in Tennessee because my dad was sick with cancer. It was a great visit and it made my dad feel a little better. Grump and I walked to the grocery store one day and just talked the whole time (We could have driven but I'm telling you, the man walked everywhere!). A few months later, I saw him for the last time at my dad's funeral. He was the only person I wanted to visit with, but he was having a hard time, too.

I didn't hear from Grump too much more for a while. For my high school graduation, he sent a card and $50 and told me to keep in touch. So when I went to college, I wrote him a couple times a month. I still have the letters he wrote to me. It was great getting that relationship back again. He even called one time and I asked him to sing for me. I don't even remember the song because I think it was in Italian, but it was beautiful - even over the phone. He asked me to sing, too, but I don't think it was quite to the caliber of his!

While at home for Christmas break my sophomore year (I think), we got a call from our uncle that Grump had died. He had had a stroke and died a few days later at the age of 89. A week before he died, my uncle said, he was still walking, swimming and singing in the church choir. Even though I didn't really cry when I found out my dad had died, I cried when I heard that Grump had died. I guess I had seen my dad go through an illness, so I was almost expecting it and knew he wasn't suffering any longer. But it was more sudden with Grump. He did, however, die on the same day my dad died, just years later - on New Year's Eve. Kind of weird really.

But if you read my post about dreams, that was the night I had the dream where Grump came to me and said "I'm OK." I'm not sure why I had this dream. I had no doubt that he was OK. He was one of the truest Christians I have ever known, always loving and caring and taking care of others.

I am grateful for the time I had with him but wish, like with my dad, that Chris could have met him. Chris has, however, seen the video and has proof of how crazy (in a good way) he was! All of my grandparents are dead now, but these two people will always remain with me! The short time I got to spend with them has made me a better person, and someday I hope to be as good of parents and grandparents as they were!