It's early morning,

  and he rushed in to use the bathroom.

Earlier I saw him camped out on the sidewalk

  and wanted to walk over and pull his blanket

  up over him.

Is he too unloveable?

Every day I come down for my coffee and the internet.

He sits there reading the newspaper with his dog.

His dog is his constant companion.

What is going to happen when one of them leaves?

Back at home amidst all of my riches,

  I desire that which he has,

  love unconditional.

The love he gives to his dog,

  feeding his dog from his daily donations,

  always caring for him ,

  is reflected in the love he receives in return.

Today he is gone,

  they both are gone.

I will never know their story.

But as I pet my dog today,

  I am beginning to understand their love.

 

 

What grandpas do

 

As I look at my grandson 

    I see a little boy

    I see the child inside of me

    playing with toys and exploring his world

     safe in the shadows of his parents.

 

As your grandpa

     I am here to keep you safe

     That is my responsibility

      the reason I am called grandpa

 

When you fall 

     and scrape your knee

     I am here to make it better

 And to let you know that we all fall on occasion

     but that I will be here to make it all better

     and when I can’t, I will hold you and share

     your pain.

That’s what grandpa’s do.

 

Reading stories and slaying dragons that

    live under beds.

Building tree houses, telling stories

    that’s what we do

As grandpas

 

When your parents 

     are overwhelmed by responsibility

     and you seem to get lost in the shuffle

     look around and you will see 

     that I am looking at you with outstretched arms

Granpas are old, may lose their strength, 

     but one thing they do have is the time

 

Someday I hope that your parents

    become grandparents 

And as you are a parent they will reach out

    to your children with open arms