My grandfather had an influence over my life that I continue to discover, as time passes. As I mature, I can credit more and more my love of cooking, my distaste for disingenuousness, and the occasional taste for rugged ingenuity to my grandpa.
My memories of Stanley Bruce Jorgensen have always been colored with a youthful awe. As a youngster, I understood my grandfather as someone who was gruff and no-nonsense, while at the same time generous and extremely loving. We would go garage sailing (formative to my business sense, and plus I got to say my granpa took me sailing) every time we visited. Every time was a different adventure, that taught me there is often still treasure to be found in that which others would cast off.
I guess, I always thought of my grandfather in a few ways. He was my real-life, related version of Sean Connery, suave and classy and gentlemanly. He had a coffee cup that had the crest of the King of Sweden on it, and growing up, I always assumed it was a little memento from whenever he had been knighted (because of course, he had to be a Sir Stanley, in my mind).
He was always humorous, not in a way that was overly conscious of the current political climate, or events, or whatever, because if humor is to be timeless, it doesn't really consider those factors. He was a man who felt that fun should be fun.
He was kind and generous, in the most authentic way. The way in which recognition didn't matter, thanks didn't matter, just in the way that giving was it's own reward. A gregarious sort of generosity, that won you over easily to his side.
I am very well educated, and have put an emphasis on knowledge that would give me an edge in contests of trivia. I do not recall in my 28 years on this earth coming close to toppling Stan in the frequent contests of Jeopardy, a family pastime.
In my short life, I have had many realizations of the impact that my grandfather has had on my life. Though I really only had the opportunity to see him on the occasional yearly vacation in my youth, and less frequently as I got older, the influence Shranpaw (as I lovingly dubbed him) has had on me grows, and I am sure will continue to reveal itself.
I am so proud of him, and all he accomplished. I am so proud of the way he lived his life, and who he was, and the values he upheld. I am proud to be his grandson. And, I am proud to live my life knowing it has been influenced by someone of such timeless values and nature.
Grandpaw, you will be remembered in my thoughts, but also my deeds. I love you.
-Luke