Holidays in Papa's basement was always a joy!  Those of you who experienced may remember some of these finds: 

The steep steps down
The big freezer (who knows what was in there!)
The big yellow piano with the Mexican dancer decals (oh, how out of tune)
The corner booth table 
The fireplace with the Christmas stockings (like Santa would ever find them there!)
The storage and Cristie's playroom (with chalk writing on the walls)
and of course,
Grandpa's Bar!  (see photo).  Anyone remember the wind-up monkey?

Wonderful times were had there by many over the 40 years!  Thanks Papa for all the memories. 

Where Frances/Papa came up with some of these,
we'll never know!

I'm slower than molasses in January.

Here eyes were so big, you could knock them off with a stick.

Lower than a snakes belt buckle.

I'm so tired, my eyes are like two burn holes in a blanket.

When something is lost, it can be anywhere.

I'm deaf as an old post.

Well, that went over like a fart in church.

I'm weak as an old cat.

My nose runs like a sieve.

Some days, you just can't lay up a cent.

Oh well, what the hell!

And, the family favorites:

I'll just creep in, crap, and creep out.  
I'll just fly in, fart, and fly out.
or, 
I'll just peep in, poop, and peep out.

Sometime in the mid-90's, Papa and the Morse's came down to celebrate the holidays with us.  We had a cute little cabin in the mountains on Mistletoe Lane. That year, while eating our way through the New Year's Eve gourmet meal (aka "pig fest"), Papa looked at a garage sale painting hanging on the wall.  She asked me "Debbie Doll, when did you get that painting of the old Chinese man? I like it." We all turned and looked at the painting, but all we saw was a picture of a hallway and some stairs.  Papa cracked up watching each of take turns, getting close up, standing way back, and tilting our heads trying to see the old Chinese man.  But by midnight, each of us had finally seen what Papa saw right off...the old man in the painting.  I miss you Papa!

What do you see in the painting? 

My mom loved to play the piano and she was very good. 

The kids used to ride in her walker...even the cats would ride on it!

Makayla  and papa shared a birthday every year.

My mom got a car first thing when she moved to California.

My mom had had a hard week in the hospital. She had tests and procedures and blood work and we honestly tried our best to get her back to her spunky self. But by Thursday we all knew it was time to let her go. She was still awake and aware of everything that was going on. We all had time to say our goodbyes and tell her how much we loved her and will miss her. We cried, so did she. But when we asked her if she was sad she said no. We asked her if she was afraid, she said no. So I leaned over and said, mom please come back and let me know you are OK.  She said yes. That night Michelle and Nicole stayed with me at the hospital. Her breathing became more and more shallow. About 3:00 am her feet and hands started moving...not a twitch but more like she was playing the piano. She loved to play the piano! That went on for 5 to 10 minutes. Then, at 9:10 on Friday morning she took her last breath. Mom, I know you are OK,  you're  dancing with the angels...because you came back Saturday,  when I was in your car. The odometer read 12 10 14...just like that! I love you mom, and thanks for giving me the sign.

I remember Papa & My Mom were visiting in '04...just before Papa's 90th Birthday. I got tickets to see Willie Nelson in concert. I got handicap seats & Papa sat in a Wheelchair next to the stairs coming off of the main floor. Everyone that passed by, would see Papa singing & clapping to the show - in turn, everyone stopped & commented on how awesome it is to see her out going to concerts still - and having such a good time. I don't know too many people that can say the went to a Concert with their Grandmother! Thanks Papa: FOR EVERYTHING! 

Papa was a nursery school teacher for decades.  Occasionally, while out shopping, a man or woman with a child in tow, would approach Papa and exclaim "Ms. Fran!"  This person remembered Papa as their nursery school teacher from when they were a child.  It always seemed to me that Papa would remember each and every one of them as if it were yesterday.  That is how she was, she always made someone's day, and made you feel like you were the most special person in the world to her.  

I still remember sitting on the floor in nursery school with Papa at the piano during singing time.  This was my favorite tune:

Little Red Wagon  

You can't ride in my little red wagon
Fronts seat's broken and the axel's draggin'.
Omp bah omp bah bah!

2nd verse same as the first 
A whole lot louder and a whole lot worse! 
You can't ride in my little red wagon
Fronts seat's broken and the axel's draggin'.
Omp bah omp bah bah!

3rd verse same as the first 
A whole lot quieter and a whole lot worse. 
You can't ride in my little red wagon
Fronts seat's broken and the axel's draggin'.
Omp bah omp bah bah!

4th verse different from the first
A whole lot louder and a whole lot worse! 
You can't ride in my little red wagon
Fronts seat's broken and the axel's draggin'.
Omp bah omp bah bah!

 Thanks for the memories, Papa!

I was fortunate enough to have my grandmother here for much longer that the average person. I have so many memories; it’s hard to narrow them down. As a child, the best memories have to be the Family Holiday celebrations at her house. Christmas parties in the basement & Birthday dinners in the living room were loud, large and fun! As an adult, I enjoyed seeing her every week for the many years I was her hairdresser. She was the best Papa to my boys, cards each and every holiday, every year of their life, always wanted to know  what they were up to (even when so many miles away).  My last visit with Papa was in Las Vegas; I was pushing her in the wheelchair, hit a bump and almost threw her straight out of that chair. She quickly fired me as her driver, ha!  She was a funny, caring, dedicated the perfect Papa. I love you Papa and will miss you. Love Cindi

 Even though my Papa lived in Michigan and us in California, I still felt very close to her.  Our family would go back east to visit once a year during the summer so we could be with Grandpa Mutt and Papa.  My siblings and I would usually run down to the basement and start playing with my moms old dolls and toys or into Papas room and straight to her jewelry box and mirror.  She would let me wear her shoes, makeup and dresses.  Oh, the shoes the purses I had to chose from!  When Papa moved to California I remember feeling excited.  I thought, "yay, I finally get to see her whenever I want and my kids will get to cherish all the memories I have about her."  As Papa got sick this last time, like every other time, I felt the need to be there as much as I could not only for her, but for my mom too.  If I had to pick one thing (which is nearly impossible) that I will always cherish is that on October 13, 2014 when everyone left the room for a minute I leaned down next to her ear and said, "Papa, it's Nicole, I love you" . She moved her head, opened her eyes and barely got five words out.  She said, "I love you too, Nikkikins" .  Thank you for being my Papa.  I only hope to be half the woman you are one day. 

Love Nikki

Growing up, I lived very close to Papa.  Every Saturday, (it seemed like EVERY Saturday), Mom, Papa, either Kim or Cindi and I would travel to the Tel-Twelve Mall. I'm not sure we bought much, but we sure enjoyed having lunch together, sharing our week, and laughing (sometimes hysterically).  I know there were lots of "life lessons" passed along from Papa every week in those tacky booths at the back of K-Mark or the MCL Cafeteria!