Solid Bonds

I've been swimming as far as I can remember. One summer I was probably around 3-4 years old I had been swimming all day and didn't want to leave the pool at my grandparent's house. I had to go to the bathroom real bad and i thought with everyone swimming and splashing around I could get away with letting a little go..... Unfortunately my grandfather figured out what happened and whisked me out of the pool. paraded me to his bathroom and asked me why I was in there. I said because I probably have to go to the bathroom some more, and he was like yes and what else? He proceeded to tell me that he loved having me and my cousins come over and swim, and that's why he had a pool and it would be impossible for his 6-foot self to swim in the toilet. So basically I had to do my business in the toilet and not in the pool, or else I would not be allowed to swim there.  I haven't pooped in a pool since.

It's been a rough year for grandfathers on planet earth, my grandfather joined the list of those who have passed along, and unfortunately it's been quite familiar with my friends within the past year.  Everyone has stories and memories that define a relationship with their grandfather.  I come from a family that has been fortunate to have positive relationships with my entire family, and really little family turmoil. We've had our fair share of stressors, serious illness, natural disasters, scrapes and cuts, but no matter the severity of our negative occurrences, we as a family have persevered.  My mother put it clearly the other day when I was asking my typical million questions making sure each and every person on my family tree was doing "ok" in the sense everyone was accounted for and had someone to be with, and yes, I went through the entire maternal side of my family tree individually. - She said, "Mia, we're all going to be fine and get through, because that's what we know."  I realized that being stubborn and putting up a fight was a familial trait we all learned from Gramps; we don't like being told what we can't do and we will work harder to prove you wrong.  My mother later reminded me how her dad has always defied odds, whether it was earning a silver star and 6 purple hearts in WWII, being a guinea pig for Hodgkins, beating lung cancer and living almost 30 years with one lung. He had reached a great 88 years old with his memory, sense of humor, knowledge and stubbornness still sharper than ever.  Although my family is hurting for the time being, we have been very lucky to have had the influence of someone so unique, creative, thoughtful, strong, and hardworking to look up to and aspire to for many decades.

One of my last memories of Gramps was him telling me that he thought it was great that I moved to Boston and that it was equally great that three of his grandchildren were living and thriving in the city.

here is a link with some cool photos from a million years ago;http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Edward-Sobuta&lc=2487&pid=152418127&mid=4734700&Affiliate=hartfordcourant&PersonID=152418127&FHID=4179