Old Grandad
No, not my father’s father nor my mother’s father, but
I don’t think I ever had the stuff, but 100 Proof Bonded Bourbon Whiskey sure sounds like a man’s drink. A little over eight years ago, my brother celebrated his 50th Birthday at a large party with family and friends. Dick, a very close friend of my brother during his teen years bought him a bottle at his 50th birthday party. He babbled about some drinking incident he and my brother had that involved Old Grandad in a manner only Dick could deliver. I never met anyone in my life that could make me laugh the way Dick could. He had a motor mouth. He could laugh at others but he was great at laughing at himself.
My brother, who was a pretty good athlete, played a lot of baseball in his teens. Dick was on one of his teams. I think Dick liked the idea of being with the guys more than actually playing. While he was not particularly athletic, he was not awful, but in his usual manner he’d poke fun at himself in a manner that approached Bob Uecker. I recall being at one game when my brother’s team was taking the field “Brucker” the coach was giving out the positions and he yelled “Mayer” (Dick’s last name), “right field!”. Dick smiled and quipped to my brother on the way to his position “Right field! That’s where they put all the shitty guys isn’t it?”
Dick’s sons were at the party as well, and one of them was very close in age to my own. The kid really didn’t know anyone and my own kid tends to be on the quiet side. While they were both standing quietly in the same vicinity, Dick started talking at the two of them wondering why they were not talking to each other and entertaining themselves (something that came naturally to him). He said “What's with you two? Are you from different planets or what?” While this probably does not sound all that humorous, you really had to be there.
Anyway, after the party my brother gave me the Old Grandad to take up to my cabin for us guys to polish off on one of our trips. I finally gave it back to him last fall saying no one really wants the stuff. I got my Crown Royal, some guys just want beer, others, Vodka or Gin. There is not much call for Old Grandad. That is, until tomorrow.
My brother and I are taking the still unopened Old Grandad, and three shot glasses to the cemetery tomorrow, one for him, one for me and one for Dick. Dick passed away earlier this year; something still hard for me to believe. We learned he was suffering from Dementia and spent some time in a nursing home at age 57. The end came relatively quickly for him; for that I am grateful. My brother and I only lost another very dear friend the year before who was also in our age group. It really made me aware of our advancing age. I don’t mean that in a despairing sense, we still enjoy good health, and spend time doing all kinds of things we like. I mean in a reality check sort of way. Our lives are likely more than half over and friends our age are dying of natural causes. I thank God for people like Dick who added so much in the way of memories and taught me not to take myself so seriously. I know Dick will be sitting right there with us tomorrow. I better make it a single shot. After all it’s 100 Proof.
I don’t think I ever had the stuff, but 100 Proof Bonded Bourbon Whiskey sure sounds like a man’s drink. A little over eight years ago, my brother celebrated his 50th Birthday at a large party with family and friends. Dick, a very close friend of my brother during his teen years bought him a bottle at his 50th birthday party. He babbled about some drinking incident he and my brother had that involved Old Grandad in a manner only Dick could deliver. I never met anyone in my life that could make me laugh the way Dick could. He had a motor mouth. He could laugh at others but he was great at laughing at himself.
My brother, who was a pretty good athlete, played a lot of baseball in his teens. Dick was on one of his teams. I think Dick liked the idea of being with the guys more than actually playing. While he was not particularly athletic, he was not awful, but in his usual manner he’d poke fun at himself in a manner that approached Bob Uecker. I recall being at one game when my brother’s team was taking the field “Brucker” the coach was giving out the positions and he yelled “Mayer” (Dick’s last name), “right field!”. Dick smiled and quipped to my brother on the way to his position “Right field! That’s where they put all the shitty guys isn’t it?”
Dick’s sons were at the party as well, and one of them was very close in age to my own. The kid really didn’t know anyone and my own kid tends to be on the quiet side. While they were both standing quietly in the same vicinity, Dick started talking at the two of them wondering why they were not talking to each other and entertaining themselves (something that came naturally to him). He said “What's with you two? Are you from different planets or what?” While this probably does not sound all that humorous, you really had to be there.
Anyway, after the party my brother gave me the Old Grandad to take up to my cabin for us guys to polish off on one of our trips. I finally gave it back to him last fall saying no one really wants the stuff. I got my Crown Royal, some guys just want beer, others, Vodka or Gin. There is not much call for Old Grandad. That is, until tomorrow.
My brother and I are taking the still unopened Old Grandad, and three shot glasses to the cemetery tomorrow, one for him, one for me and one for Dick. Dick passed away earlier this year; something still hard for me to believe. We learned he was suffering from Dementia and spent some time in a nursing home at age 57. The end came relatively quickly for him; for that I am grateful. My brother and I only lost another very dear friend the year before who was also in our age group. It really made me aware of our advancing age. I don’t mean that in a despairing sense, we still enjoy good health, and spend time doing all kinds of things we like. I mean in a reality check sort of way. Our lives are likely more than half over and friends our age are dying of natural causes. I thank God for people like Dick who added so much in the way of memories and taught me not to take myself so seriously. I know Dick will be sitting right there with us tomorrow. I better make it a single shot. After all it’s 100 Proof.
