Grandaddy Drake was born November 10, 1910, 113 years ago TODAY, as I write and record this on November 10, 2023. My friendship with him, though short-lived, was special, and I am grateful that he lives on in my cherished memories. On this day every year, I buy my first of many bags of Ruby Red Grapefruit, and I hope they will be from Texas. It is a special gift to me, from heaven, that Granddaddy's birthday falls right when Grapefruit season begins!
When I was a little girl, Granddaddy and Grandmother lived in Gould, Oklahoma, where they had an antique store filled with lots of interesting things, but what I liked the most was the fruit that Granddaddy sold from the front of the store. Big bags of ruby red grapefruit and bright orange oranges, from neighboring Texas. I loved watching Grandaddy cut the grapefruit in half and then carefully cut round and round each little segment so I could scoop it out with a spoon.
I remember Granddaddy wore boots and a cowboy hat, and I remember his presence. I remember the feeling of WITH, when I was with him. I knew he loved me, and I knew he enjoyed my company as much as I did his.
I missed the opportunity to create many memories with him. My father left right around my 5th birthday, and since Granddaddy was on his side of the family, he seemed even further away than Iowa already was from the far southwest part of Oklahoma. With a now torn family, visits didn't seem likely, but after a few years, my Mother found a way, and she made plans for me to spend two whole weeks with Grandmother and Granddaddy the summer I was 8. But those plans were interrupted by a new marriage and new ideas of who-what-where-when-why-and how. This kind of thing is one of the many costs of divorce, and it would be part of the price that I would pay.
I never saw Grandmother again. She passed away the spring of my 6th grade year. I did see Granddaddy one more time, when I was 14. He was wearing a cowboy hat and boots, and I was WITH him, those things felt good and right. Granddaddy wasn't much of a talker, and apparently no one even knew he had anything to say until Grandmother passed away. When someone brought it to his attention, his comment was that he never got the chance when Grandmother was around. She was a talker. Granddaddy died in January 1990, a couple weeks before my 17th birthday, February 1st. At his funeral, I was met with an onslaught of hugs and tears, a reunion with cousins and other relatives I didn't even know were mine. They remembered me, of course, because they were all older than I was when I was disconnected from the family. I hadn't seen any of them since I was 4 years old.
My memories are few, but they are mine, and I am grateful. One day, everything that is wrong now will be made right. Everything that is broken will be made whole. Life is hard for all of us. Life is good for all of us. Sorrow and joy live together in our experiences and relationships. That is now. There is coming a day when sorrow will pass away, and all that remains will be JOY!
Grapefruit and Granddaddy. Antiques, boots and a cowboy hat, and most of all, his presence of WITH. This is enough, and my heart is full.
I don't cut my grapefruits in half and eat them with a spoon anymore. Now I usually peel an entire bag at a time, and tear away the covering for whole segments of ruby red goodness. I also pair them with pomegranates. Together they are beautiful and delicious! You should try this if you haven't already! It is a lot of work, and that might not be "appealing" to you, but I promise it's worth your time! Listen to something that nourishes your soul, and the task will be doubly blessed!
