Grandpa

My grandpa died last Tuesday after living for 74 years. He was one of my most favorite people in the world. He was a hard working man, always busy with some project. He was a kind man, always willing to give a stranger a hand. If you knew him you liked him or atleast admired his tenacity for life. When he was in his early twenties, newly married and with one small child, he was in a horrible accident and had to have his arms amputated. My grandma says they would have left him to die, his injuries where so severe.
My grandpa planted trees,had a small vineyard in his back yard, grew fruits and vegetables. If you needed to know the name of a tree or bird or piece of furniture all you had to do was ask him. He painted and drew pictures,made wine with my grandma, built things like back bars and often constructed pieces of art.
When I was young I would spend the days with him riding in his truck and playing Zip(who can spot a windmill first),going to auctions, helping him fix things and tie knots ,swim, eat food and watch tv.
He taught me to tie my shoes, drive a stick, change a tire, check my oil,be kind to children and old people.....the list goes on and on.
He never gave me (to much) shit for shaving my head or getting tattoos or piercings though when he handed me money, which he often did, it came with the caveat of not buying cigarettes(which I often did).
In his life he along with my grandma rode 17 Ragbrais and also biked from Melbourne to Sydney. I can only hope to be as amazing as my grandpa(and my grandma!).
My grandpa was my pal and I will always miss him.