Today would have been my Grandpa’s 87th birthday. He died last November a week before Thanksgiving from complications from congestive heart failure. He was WWII vet, former minor league baseball player for the Tigers (right field), active member of his local VFW, told the best stories, had a good sense of humor, strong work ethic, provided for his family and my Grandma and, he loved cookies, well, sweets in general. For his b-day and other times during the year my mom would bake him some sort of cookies and mail them to him. I also sent him some cookies from time to time. Sometimes he’d share them with Grandma, sometimes not. He was funny that way. She used to tell me that he’d go get the mail and then she’d ask him if there was anything special. He’d be evasive and eventually tell her that “Barb sent me some cookies.” She and I would have a good laugh about that. I always sent him funny birthday cards, which he always appreciated and saved. I wish mom and I could have baked him cookies one last time.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa.