ruth kaufman: Words for my grandfather's funeral

August 7, 2008

I want to share just a few words about Grandpa Nat with you.

It's incredible to take stock of how much a person can shape your world view by just being themselves.

This is my grandfather through my eyes.

This is a list of things that I associate with Grandpa Nat.

PEANUTS. Granpda loved peanuts in the shell. He always had a bowl of them around the house, and the bowl was in the shape of a peanut. Michelle told us last night that when she was wheeling him in the supermarket a few weeks ago, he nonchalantly grabbed some peanuts off the shelf and just started eating them right there.

TIC TACS. He always carried a pack of white Tic Tacs in his shirt pocket. He'd always offer me one and give me two.

NEOPOLITAN ICE CREAM. I don't know why he liked this so much. He seemed to appreciate the way it was laid out and the options it presented. He used to make a big production out of assembling an ice cream sundae for me. Recently, Grandpa ate ice cream even when he wouldn't eat anything else.

CARS. I think of my grandfather every time I think about cars. He subscribed to automotive magazines. He used to take me to the NY auto show, and he used to ask me how I liked his new car, every time I saw him, for the ten or so years that he owned it. Grandpa loved to drive, sometimes in a straight line.

CATS. The cat he had when i was very young was called Dummy. Then he had Cleo and Angel. His last cat was Lucy. Lucy would only sit on his lap, and she hid from everyone else. He loved her very much.

HABERDASHERY. Grandpa worked at Bonds, selling mens suits. He carried a measuring tape in his pocket until he stopped wearing pants.

TALL, LANKY PEOPLE

JAZZ STANDARDS. He knew every song and who sang it. More recently, Grandma and Grandpa have kept the standards & show tunes cable channel on for music, rather than playing CD's or the radio. He sang along to everything. He just loved music.

TAKING THINGS IN STRIDE

and BEING SILLY... Grandpa wanted to make people smile. He worked at it by flirting, telling stories, playing mind games, talking nonsense, making faces, and horsing around.

Grandpa Nat really loved being a grandfather, and I, and my sister Keren, and Michelle and Benny, were very lucky to have him for so many years -- well into our adult lives. I love him so much.