Influences: My Grandfather

<p><span>June 1996, my grandparents, my parents, my girlfriend and I spent a weekend in Laughlin.&nbsp; The guys spent one evening at a pay-per-view boxing event featuring Oscar De La Hoya against Julio Cesar Chavez.&nbsp; We had a fun time - it was the first time that I can think of as an adult spending time alone with my father and grandfather.&nbsp; My grandparents wanted to go to bed earlier than the rest of us (YEAH, BABY!) so my grandpa thought we should meet for breakfast at the hotel's all-you-can-eat restaurant before returning home in the morning.&nbsp; That sounded like a great plan at the time, but when the morning came, I just wanted to sleep.&nbsp; So my girlfriend, Laura went to meet everyone without me.&nbsp; When she returned from breakfast she told me that my grandpa was asking about me.&nbsp; I asked her what she meant &ndash; she didn't say anything specific yet she made a point to mention it as though he were very disappointed.&nbsp; Then she told me that he asked what time I went to bed, asked how many beers I drank the night before, asked if I was feeling alright, and even where and what I would eat before taking that long trip home.&nbsp; I was really stunned that he wondered so many things about myself - I don't even wonder half of that about myself - AND I'M AS SELF-CENTERED AS A PERSON CAN GET!&nbsp; According to Laura, that is.&nbsp; I figured that maybe I should - he didn't have to worry about me, I rarely ate breakfast anyways and I'd be fine.&nbsp; I dropped it from my mind at that point.&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span>We packed up and went to the lobby.&nbsp; My grandpa walked up to me and the first thing that he did was inform me that I missed breakfast.&nbsp; I assured him that I understood and i'd be fine for the next couple of hours, since it would be at least 2 hours before I would have any chance to eat.&nbsp; I'll never forget the way he looked at me and smiled, "Just let me know when you get hungry,"&nbsp; he said with assurance.&nbsp; We then walked to the car, everyone piled in, and I landed next to my grandpa for the long drive home. &nbsp; My grandpa would smile at me every so often and I knew each time he couldn't wait until I got hungry so he could obviously spring his surprise on me - I wasn't used to seeing my grandpa behave so eager.&nbsp; Then, about half and hour before we were near anyplace that sold food, my grandpa&nbsp; asked rather than just smiled.&nbsp; "You hungry yet there, Pal?"&nbsp; This time I gave in - I couldn't ruin his opportunity to show me that he was thinking of me, plus the thought of bacon, or perhaps a muffin or danish was beginning to sound like a great idea.&hellip;&nbsp; "Yeah, I am pretty hungry now."&nbsp; I smile back at him this time, rather than the quizzical replies that he had been receiving from me since our newly developed bond was created.&nbsp; I then realized I shouldn't be such a cynical person.&nbsp; The thought of my grandpa worrying and caring about me so much that he even brought a stash of treats so that I wouldn't be hungry - now that's a heart-warming moment. &nbsp; As I sat there awaiting his presentation, I noticed his smile was even bigger than mine &ndash; in fact &ndash; it was HUGE! &nbsp; At that moment, I felt as though I must have won the lottery or something - YEAH, I'M READY FOR YOUR GIFT, LAY IT ON ME. Then came his offering: "We had eggs, and there was bacon- cooked just right - barely any fat on it&hellip; same with the sausage&hellip; I can still hear it sizzling on the plate.&nbsp; Mmmmm.... Oh, and all of those muffins,&hellip;&nbsp; orange juice - freshly squeezed&hellip; &nbsp; we were in heaven in there - tell him about the omelette bar Cheryl...&nbsp; HIS SMILE WAS SO SLY!!!</span></p><p><span> THAT WAS HILARIOUS!!!&nbsp; Everyone was laughing at me - EVEN ME!&nbsp; I don't recall the rest of the ride home - except maybe a glimse and a smile from each person every once in a while as they thought about the look on my face as I realized I had been set-up.</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span>THINKING BACK AT THIS MOMENT...</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span>Those smiles he was giving me to help sell the concern, they seemed so genuine - but how could they be???&nbsp; I was tricked.&nbsp; Was he some kind of great actor?&nbsp; When I think back at those smiles now - I know he wasn't acting at all.&nbsp; Every one of them was a truly genuine smile.&nbsp; The smiles that pass as innocence and wholesomeness - two traits that I believe he is entitled to claim.&nbsp; Without these two characteristics, he wouldn't be able to sell such an act of deception.&nbsp; The other half of ingredients that you'd need is to be a very clever person with patience and true thoughtfulness - that's the only way this could have been pulled off. &nbsp; That was only one of many memories that he had provided me during his unobtrusive reign as head of the family. My grandpa has been a huge influence in my life.&nbsp; We never exchanged many words, but I always felt safe around him and he always brought a smile to my face.&nbsp; Thinking back to that day is a much richer gift than if he did pull out hands full of&nbsp; bacon, sausage, and muffins...</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span>THE END</span></p><p><span><br /></span></p><p>Erik Jurado</p>