Grandpa Lucas's 85th Birthday!

A week or so ago, we took in supper for Jonathan's father's 85th birthday. 

While waiting for everyone to arrive, Timmy dug up an old bush in the front yard and planted a new flowering plant that Grandpa and ma had purchased.

At 85, Grandpa is still mowing his own yard, and taking care of most things around his place. Just a few little things are too much for him, and his birthday was a chance to help a little. Sam fixed something for a drain, and Danny dug some planters out of storage for Grandma.

The children took turns churning homemade icecream.  

I asked Crystal to choose a card for Grandpa in town, and she chose a lovely one with a lighthouse, so then I decided to go with seafood for a gift, to go along with the lighthouse. He likes dried salmon, so we got that, and a package of shrimp and sauce (at BOGO so we took the free one to add in to supper!) and a salmon dip, and crackers. I often go with edibles for gifts because they are trying to get rid of stuff! 

Back for Mama Lucas's birthday in February, I wrote a poem about her and for her, and figured while I was at it, I would write one about Daddy, too. I ran them by Jonathan's brother Dave and Ruth who offered several more suggestions to add in, and so here is the finished product.

   Grandpa on His Eighty-fifth Birthday

Grandpa is almost Anything.

First his parents named him John Ingling.

But to us, he's "Daddy;" he's that times five,

And he's "Grandpa," to fifteen grands alive!

And "Great-grand" now, with wee Greyson.

He's also Uncle and brother and son.

He was "Jersey Farm Boy" out milking the cows

And helping on the farm and in the hay mows.

He's happy, though, to leave all the farm work behind,

Though icecream is never very far from his mind !

At school in his youth, he was the county Spelling Champ,

Almost went to state level, did our notable Gramp.

He became "Meter-reader" whether cloudy or clear,

In Colorado Springs for thirty long years.

He was "Printer," at the print shop on Cucharras Street,

A better printer could hardly be beat.

Say "Painter," and "Fixer-upper of homes,"

And that was Grandpa with thirty rentals he owned.

He got his whole family, the big and the small,

Carrying out trash and painting the walls.

Say "Greenhouse Builder," and that was our dad,

Building right against the house walls that he had.

Say "Gardener" and he rototilled

And built up the garden with gravel and silt.

Say "Skunk-Catcher" and he''ll have a story right there.

Say "Fence-Fixer." He kept out the deer and the bear.

"Rock Hound" is another name that he wore,

As he traveled about picking up" just one more,"

Giant slabs of marble and amethysts amazed,

And specimens of agate filled his gaze.

Say "Traveler" and he's been to fifty states and back

Besides riding airplanes and comfy Amtrak.

He's traveled to Switzerland and far-off Ukraine,

He's been to Russia and flew home again.

He's been to Alaska, and Canada, and

Countless places around Colorado land.

Say "Hiker" and he's been on many a trail,

Say "Camper" for he's camped on mountain and vale.

Just say "Photographer" and then have a look

At all of his photo albums in every house nook.

He loved old covered bridges and every waterfall,

And every old lighthouse, the great and the small.

Pictures of wildflowers on steep mountainsides,

And any scene of nature in God's world so wide.

"Church Treasurer" was another title of his,

At figuring up numbers, Granddad was a whiz!

All the church figures and books he kept straight,

Even when it meant staying up a bit late.

He has many names and has worn many hats,

And this poem's just a reflection on that,

But better than the name he got from his mother

Is one he got when he became "Christian brother,"

The name that he got when Christ's yoke he took,

The name that is written in a heavenly book.

Yes, Dad, and Granddad, and John Ingling.

This Dad is just about Anything!