Since i was a little girl Pete has always told us stories, can you believe I even went to school telling my friends that my Grandpa could stop trains and fight tigers with his bare hands.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Farmer's Market
Waking up at 4am
Pete’s Old Man would wake him up 4 am because his Stepfather was a produce man known as the vegetable man. They would go to Down Town LA and purchase vegetables and he’d resell them to the local markets. This usually took about 3 hours when they were done working his Old Man would say “Are you ready to eat” that’s exactly what Pete was waiting to hear, you see that was why Pete woke up at the crake of dawn, Pete was a breakfast man he looked forward to his tall stack of pancakes with eggs and bacon. Soon before it was time to go to school his old man would have Pete could the money that was made for the day separate the money that they started off with and seeing what was a profit. When the old man wasn’t looking Pete would put a little aside for himself : ) I know it’s wrong to steal but Pete was very generous with the money, he took the neighborhood kids out for soda pops and ice cream sometime candy too. Pete said he always had to nickels to rub together in his pocket.
Pete’s Old Man would wake him up 4 am because his Stepfather was a produce man known as the vegetable man. They would go to Down Town LA and purchase vegetables and he’d resell them to the local markets. This usually took about 3 hours when they were done working his Old Man would say “Are you ready to eat” that’s exactly what Pete was waiting to hear, you see that was why Pete woke up at the crake of dawn, Pete was a breakfast man he looked forward to his tall stack of pancakes with eggs and bacon. Soon before it was time to go to school his old man would have Pete could the money that was made for the day separate the money that they started off with and seeing what was a profit. When the old man wasn’t looking Pete would put a little aside for himself : ) I know it’s wrong to steal but Pete was very generous with the money, he took the neighborhood kids out for soda pops and ice cream sometime candy too. Pete said he always had to nickels to rub together in his pocket.
Did You See That?
Back in the day Pete drove an old black Chevy pick up truck, it was so old it didn’t even have set belts. My Mom Gloria was very close to her Mom and Dad; I think we were at their house every weekend. After a long day at Nanny’s house Pete would drive us home, we’d all pile up in the truck. My younger brother John was always sleepy and could fall asleep just about anywhere (I think he still can) well as we were driving John was dosing off and Pete would say “did you see that” and John would wake up and woud look out the window, not knowing what to look for, then again his eyes would slowly start to close then Pete would say again “did you see that” John would open his eyes really wide and look outside the window looking like he missed something. My Sister and I would laugh we thought it was the funniest thing. This game went on till we got home.
Peaches
Pete’s Ma would buy the big can of peaches from the local market, you know so it would last a long time since her boy’s loved them so much. After one dinner the boy’s were given a bowl of peaches for desert. Ma put the can away for the next time. Pete wanted more he should have asked but he didn’t, so he went to the fridge and filled up his bowl again without permission, as he sat there eating his bowl thinking to himself (these are the best peaches in the world) he was soon caught my his mother. Ma wasn’t the type to yell she just have him that look, you know that look that mothers give when you know your in big trouble. Ma went to the fridge and took out the big can and handed it to Pete with a spoon and said “Next time you’ll think to ask before you take without asking” she walked him to the back porch sat him down and told him to eat what was left in the can. Pete thought to himself this is a good thing... As he ate and ate, soon he was sick to his stomach. Even with that experience Pete still loved peaches and ate them when he could.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Having to say goodbye
Pete was more than just my Grandpa. He was a beautiful man who I admired and looked up to and loved dearly with all my heart.
He was so special.
If you meet Pete for the first time you couldn’t help but fall in love with him. He had the power to love his whole family, his wife of 72 years all 6 children, his Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren & Great Great Grandchildren.
He had the biggest heart. If you ever needed anything, he was someone you could depend on.
He gave advice from the heart.
If he told you he was going to do something he did it.. His word was GOLD!
On November the 9th Pete sat Gina & I down ; he said he needed to talk to us. He told us that the time was near and he had to leave us soon. He said he was ready, and that he had lived a good life but he was now tired and needed to rest.
He told us we needed to prepare ourselves and to take care of Nanny…. As I caught my breath and held back the tears …. I told him how much I loved and appreciated everything about him. It broke my heart that I was going to miss the Rock of our Family.
Pete was my story teller: Summer days were the best because he loved the sun.. We’d take snacks and sit around the table and listen to him tell stories from the good O’l days. ..or how you’d stop trains and fight tigers with your bare hands;
There were so many stories: if I had to pick a favorite it would be how he meet Nanny, his eyes would light up as you said “she pick pocketed me and begged me not to say anything” and we’d all laugh.
Pete had a beautiful sense of humor; even till the very end you made us laugh with his jokes or your silliness.
This past Thanksgiving Pete said “it was the best he had ever had” he was happy to spend it with the family eating and playing rumming cube, I think he won 5 games that day.
Pete loved to be in the kitchen;
Every morning he’d made Nanny Breakfast, he bake pies make cookies, cook rib make his special potato salad.
After he was done working on his crossword puzzle he’s look for recipes in the news paper, when he found something good he’d always ask one of kids … hey, what are you doing tomorrow and we knew he wanted us to take him to the market.
I have many fond memories of Pete but here are just a few;
I will miss the times you’d would lay on the floor and pay with us kids, you’d pinch us with your toes.
You’d chase us and tell us the eagle was going to get us.
You let us comb your hair like George Washington.
You helping us with our homework or teaching us how to play the piano (even if it made us cry)
When we were small kid; every payday you’d take us kids shopping for toys.
You’d make Gina, Rachel and I Sheryl temples and let us sit at the bar and say bad words…
You’d would put juicy fruit gum behind your ear.
I will miss our drives to the market and home depot.
I will miss watching the hummingbirds with you.
I will miss how you helped Nanny take care of Amber when she was little.. You took her to climb trees, play in the dirt, plant flowers and, you taught her how to speak Chinese.
You’d let Samantha paint your nails and play with her doll you nick named UGLY.
Pete you will not be forgotten:
Because every time the sun rises or sun set I will see your smiles.
Every time I see the flowers bloom I will feel the love we have for each other.
Every time I see a hummingbird I will feel the eternal love you have for all of us.
When I see the stars at night I will know you’re watching over us… telling us “sweet dreams & I’ll see you tomorrow”
I look forward to sharing my Pete stories with my family, my daughters and my grandchildren. I only hope to be a great story teller like you.
You brought so much joy into our lives, Pete I love you and miss you with all my heart and look forward to seeing again.
A special thank you; to Nanny, my Mom Gloria and Aunt Lola; I’d like to thank you for taking such good care of Pete, I know these last few months have been the hardest. But you’ve done an amazing job; you cared for him with your hearts because it was an honor to take care of such a great man.
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