Grandpa Jack is Charlie's grandfather on his mothers side. Sweet old man who passed away at the age of 93 last year. I had the pleasure of knowing him for one summer while he lived in Winnipeg and never has anyone had such an impact on me.
Grandpa Jack was just the purest form of love you could ever ask for. Sweet, thoughtful, kind with a quiet, unassuming kind of strength that you would only dream of having. I fell for him the very first time he held my hand while I was helping him up some stairs. It was something about the way his kind eyes would look right to your soul that got me. It felt like in an instant he knew everything about me and didn't care about any of my flaws. He just loved me because I was dating his Charlie. We almost always got seated beside each other during family dinners, I'm not sure if it was by chance or the way he wanted it to be. At 93, no one questions where you want to sit or if you happen to fall asleep at the dinner table (it happened a few times, I just made sure to nudge him a bit further back into his seat so he wouldn't fall over). I remember him always commenting on how big the portions were and how one of should take half his steak home with them.
Grandpa Jack was a self made man. He owned a plumbing business in Montreal and where his wife did the books until she passed away. He then proceeded to run the business and raise 3 daughters on his own. No one did that back then, there was no such thing as a single father of 3 girls. But he did it, he raised them well and on his own. He was also a writer, sculptor and an avid gardener. Apparently his garden was the talk of the town and he was always very generous with its contents.
While at dinner at my in-laws house this Saturday, I had come across a thin green hardbound book. Something was calling me to as it was underneath a few papers. I pulled out and in gold writing is said: A Moment to Remember A collection of essays and poems by Jack Ravinsky. I was immediately enthralled. I opened it up and started reading... he wrote from his soul. It was honest, bold and unassuming much like he was in life. His imagery is amazing and was published in local papers and magazines all around town. We were all getting ready to go and I asked my mother in law where I could get a copy for myself. She paused and turned.
"do you realize what that is?"
"yes! It's grandpa Jack and I would love a copy!"
She seemed stunned at the fact that I would take such interest in such a small book but if you knew the man, you would want a copy too.
"oh, you know what? I have a few copies. Take that one. It's yours"
"are you sure you have another copy for yourself"
"yes, its right here. See? That one is now yours"
"thank you, I love it already!"
And I put it my purse as we said our goodbye and left for the night.
It stayed in my purse all Sunday until I got home from work. Charlie was about to go out to Shouresh's place for some well deserved guy time. I chose to stay at home and Netflix my night away. I started 'Love Actually" and near the end I picked up the book and started flipping through. I got to a story called Remembering Passover. The first sentence was about how a very young Charlie invited him to Winnipeg for passover this year. I couldn't stop reading and for some reason tears started flowing down my cheeks as I read. He thought so highly of his only grandson. Remarking on some of his smart ass comments and calling him smarter than some of our so-called world leaders. Charlie walked in the door while all this was happening, rushed over to me and in very concerned voice asked me
"what's wrong?"
I couldn't even speak through the now sobbing hysterics I had worked myself into, all I could do was hold up the book pointing to the page where the story started and pointing at him. He took it from me and started reading. He slowly sank into the couch beside me as I tried to get a hold of my emotions. He was completely quiet and he even started to well up but never shedding a tear.
"Judy, I hope those are happy tears"
"they, they ... aaaareeeeeeeee" *sniff*sniff*
"ok, grandpa Jack would have wanted it that way"
I told Charlie that I would try to post the story as long I could read the story without crying. Hasn't happened yet. So maybe another time :)
<3 you Grandpa Jack. I promise that we will share your stories with your great grandchild so it can remember you as fondly as we do.
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