I just remember our yearly vacation up to Cape Cod. The brutal 47 hour drive from NJ... ok ok 6 hours, but it seemed so much longer! Mom and Dad, 5 kids, and 2 English Springer Spaniels in a sexy station wagon. Of course, Pete and I were stuck in the very back, with the gassy dogs. Good times. You know how rowdy 5 kids can get . Every year we would hear the same line, “if you don’t knock it off I’m going to turn this car around “! Yeah right, we knew you already paid for the trip. Bahahaha

Dad told us a story from his days in high school when World War 2 was happening. His dad worked in a dairy and ice cream plant. Everything was rationed and sugary treats were especially hard to get.

Then one time, the ice cream plant got some extra chocolate, but it wasn't enough to make a full run. So, the plant manager let a few workers have these enormous 5 pound blocks of chocolate. My grampy was one of the lucky workers who got to bring one home.

Well, that block of chocolate helped make my dad, his sister and his brother really popular for a few days! 😄

Years and years ago, Grandpa and Grandma treated me to a show at Papermill Playhouse -- it was about an opera singer, and we were SO excited to see it and hear some amazing music. Turns out, we didn't really get the premise of the show all that right. It WAS about an opera singer, but what it WASN'T was a musical... or good. During intermission, I pretended I was having a great time (I was actually shriveling up on the inside I was so bored) and Grandpa and Grandma gave each other this look before asking me what I thought of the show. If you know me well, you know I have the worst poker face on the planet and I can't lie for anything, so I basically said I was suffering. I was so scared they'd be mad or disappointed, but I'll always remember Grandpa bursting out laughing and saying, "Yes, it's very disappointing. Let's get lunch." -- which from Grandpa roughly translates to "This is total garbage, let's bounce." The three of us dipped during the intermission and went to lunch, where me and Grandpa both ordered the best salmon ever. I'll always remember that.

And to add on to Holly's story from Allaire, what is totally hilarious now but definitely WASN'T funny then, was that after begging and begging Grandpa to get us those hot dogs... I absolutely hated mine 😂😭. After all that whining and begging and groveling and waiting in line, Grandpa had to put up with that curveball. I've always been a special kind of pain in the neck. We talked about that story just before father's day and he was cracking up with us.

I think one of my favorite stories about Grandpa is when Heather and I were telling him about our ancestry dna results. I have <1% Pacific Islander in me and when I said this to Grandpa his reaction was, "Who slipped in there?", sounding genuinely curious but also laughing at his own innuendo joke at the same time.

Pete and I became engaged 4 months after our first/blind date, and then married 9 months later. Honestly, I was a little intimidated by Dad in our early years, he was so very smart and I did not want to say or do the wrong thing.

Three years later we had Holly and, although Dad had open arms (and goofy-smiley faces) ready to hold his Granddaughter, I still couldn’t help feeling a weird sort of distance between me and my FIL.

Pete soon advanced at work, so we decided I would stay home to raise Holly, and we soon became pregnant with Heather.

We went over to the house to tell Mom and Dad and, after quick hugs all around, Dad looked directly into my face and exclaimed, “It’s so nice to share great news and amazing what a bonus check will do, eh?”

Dad and I have been solid, ever since :)

One of my truly fond memories is when Grandpa brought Heather and I to Allaire State Park to see the trains. It was, and still is, one of my favorite parks. The trip was made all the more special when Grandpa gave in to our pleading puppy-dog eyes and treated us to hotdogs from the concession stand (something we could never convince Dad to do). It will always remain as one of my favorite trips with Grandpa.

A more recent memory is learning that my by-the-book Grandpa was actually a trouble-maker when he was younger! From stuffing banana peels up tailpipes to pulling fire alarms, he’s done it! When I learned of this and turned to him with wide-eyed disbelief he confirmed these stories with a cheeky smirk. I love knowing that my kind, soft spoken Grandpa was also every bit the rule-breaker and he loved it!