Jewells of Thought

One year not very long after Grandpa Freddy died a new movie came out. According to the date this movie came out nearly 6 years after his death. I still remember the Hallmark Movie being on a CBS Special Presentation. Dad and I initially watched it together that night. Mom I think fell asleep before the movie was half done.

I pounced on the ability to buy this DVD I had it for Valentines Day. My plan was to watch it with Grandma and my Uncles up at her house while my parents were on their date. My younger brother was in college and my other brother I don’t really remember what he was doing. He may have been in his first marriage at this time. My memory seems a bit hazy, but it was 2011 so that would have been the year before my niece was born.

Before we put the movie on we all got our favorite foods. Grandma loved a classic roast beef with tomato on it. Uncle Tony and I would usually get Taco Bell and Uncle Mike was obsessed with Subway. Yes this was sort of our new routine after Grandpa died. After church Sunday night we would be at one place then another unless the lines were too long. Then I would acquiesce with Arby’s or Subway. I went with them to church instead of driving separately unless I needed to otherwise. They followed me to First Baptist after Grandpa died there were a couple of years where being at Fellowship was extremely difficult because of how much the memories stung too close afterwards. It was one of the most amazing decisions of my young adult life.

The lack of interaction with my age group was deafening. This decision gave me a classroom and friends for a lifetime. Friends that would somehow eventually follow me back to Fellowship who are with me now. Friends who are truly family to me and maybe even know me better than my family does at times.

Once we had our food and I have to admit my younger brother and I are both obsessed over Mexican Food and Taco Bell. Although I do have to say I make some of those foods better in our kitchen myself. My Mom will attest to that very fact and is why she doesn’t like going to Taco Bell she knows I could do better.

Anyhow we got comfortable Grandma in her chair, Uncle Tony in his chair and me and Uncle Mike on the couch. I had seen this movie before like I said and I totally sobbed like a baby. This time I was prepared for my crying, but not for grown men crying. I concentrated too much on watching my Uncles I don’t remember watching Grandma. She was always a strong lady I don’t remember seeing her cry very much at all or ever. That is until the Nursing Home years later.

It did affect me to see both my uncles crying at the end of this movie. Up until then I didn’t remember them crying at movies like this. I don’t even remember at the funeral if they cried then like this. I was so sick that day I didn’t notice as much of my surroundings. I was a mess, I know I used to say I was as sick as a dog. I only made it to school once that entire week Thursday the day after the funeral. I had to talk to my professors and my roommate I think. It took a while to get over that horrible cold that I had already had for 2 weeks.

That’s all I seem to remember. I don’t know if we watched another movie afterwards or not. That Valentines Day seems so long ago. This one happened years before yesterday’s article happened. Grandpa Freddy never left the states during his time in the Navy he was in and out before he married Grandma. She didn’t have to go through the story of the movie as Betty White had so poignantly portrayed.

The Alsman Family loved to watch movies together Grandpa would even ask Uncle Mike and Tony which movies were good. He relied on their discernment for the times he would take us all out to the movies. One of those was “Mr. Holland’s Opus.” We enjoyed talking and eating while watching movies together, something that was unique for mom’s side of the family.

There are times I really miss the closeness we had growing up. I miss my Grandparents and Uncle Mike especially on days like this having memories of past Valentine’s Nights in my memory. Please take advantage of having those in your life around you specifically today.