To My One and Only Grandpa, Grandpa Tony

You have been gone 13 years.

They say 13 is a lucky number in Italy! (…according to Stephanie anyway!)

I hope you’ve been whooping people at cards up there in Heaven.

It doesn’t feel like you’ve been gone this long, even though it makes me sad that we say we’re going to Grandma’s when we go to Boston… It’s your house too.

You made that house better.

Gave the pristine, antique interior some life.

I remember running out of the car to be the first one to ring the buzzer, so you or Grammy could let me in.

I remember flying up the stairs to beat Sammi and give you a smooch first.

I remember knowing that you’d always have the corner cabinet with the revolving pantry stocked with Cap’n Crunch and Sugar-Free Popsicles in the freezer. I remember you always asking for ‘an orange’ or ‘a red’ and racing across the tile from the den to the kitchen to get it (and one for myself too, of course.)

AY! STOP RUNNING!

I can still here you saying that.

 (ps. There are never any snacks at your house anymore… Tell Grammy to step up her game.)

The den is much different now. It’s revamped and your chair isn’t there, but I still remember you sitting there and asking me if I wanted to play a game. To my dismay it was always 52 pick up… Haha!

God forbid I took the clicker. Golf was the only option. I had to go to Stephanie’s if I dared catch a glimpse of Nickelodeon. Remember that one time I changed the channel and hid it in one of the wrought iron things Gram kept around the house? You knew I took it. I lied until you threatened to kill me and then I gave it back… Hahaha!

I remember all of my nicknames: Egghead, Meatballhead, Scuch, Nudge, Scuchamende, etc… I always loved how you called Grammy, Rosie, even though that isn’t her name.

I remember you sitting at the head of the dining room table saying Grace. Daddy does it now.

I remember calling you from New York to tell you when he was being mean to me when I was sick. You told me to put him on the phone and you’d take care of it. I remember laughing to myself, thinking he was about to get it! When Dad gave me back the phone, you told me to put on Wheel of Fortune. They were eating pizza in that episode for some reason. You loved that show.

I remember being in the backseat of the car going to Good Harbor Beach with you in the passenger seat and professing my Italian and Irish pride. I can’t remember exactly what you said, but I know it had something to do with being put on your black list and being kicked out of the car if I ever mentioned I was Irish again…

I was Italian… That was it! Hahahaha!

I remember you always being a tough guy, but the sweetest goofball I had ever known.

Everyone respected you.

I remember a lot of things…

I miss you so much Grandpa and I know you’re watching over us.

I wear your rings every day.

Keep a spot at the card table open for me up there. Maybe we can be partner up some time!

 Love you forever.

11/27/99 ♥

I know you’re resting in peace.

-Alex

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