Grandpa
S. A. Ruskjer
We didn't know him all that well,
Though we had spent some time …
Mom and Dad were on their honeymoon.
Grandparents -- past their prime.
Hulda Ruskjer was quite frail
Grandpa saved her from the strain;
Dropped us three of at a pool,
For eight hours, shine or rain!
You might think that we'd be tired
Swimming all those hours on end.
But we soon learned at the bottom
There was money we could spend!
When we gave it to the lifeguard,
He said, "Keep it. It's all right."
We didn't think it strange. We prob'ly
Would have dove throughout the night!
Little did we know 'twas Grandpa
Who had paid the suntanned guard
So he'd keep a watch out for us
In his chlorinated yard.
He would toss a quarter here and there,
A nickel or a dime,
Always clever not to let on --
Just to occupy our time.
It was just about a year from then
(Before Thanksgiving Day)
That Dad took a call from Louisville,
"Dad Ruskjer's passed away."
This was just about the first time
Someone died who I had known --
It was s'posed to be a holiday
When Dad hung up that phone.
S. A. Ruskjer had a fav'rite song --
We learned it just for him.
King of My Life, I Crown Thee Now --
My tears were on the brim.
We got through it, though, outdoors beneath
The green grave-mounted tent.
Gram then placed a white rose on the lid.
Don't know just what that meant …