Friday, December 7, 2007

Great Grandpa Larry

While I was out in California for my workshop, we spent some time visiting my grandparents. I'd like to share some of my favorite stories of a man that I greatly admire.

My Grandpa Larry loves airplanes, boxing, and my Grandma. He Joined the military in 1941 and became an engineer/gunner in a B24 liberator in World War II where he flew missions in the South Pacific. He tells of a time when a man asked him to switch missions so he could get home to his wife one day earlier, my Grandpa did, that plane crashed and left no survivors.

He met Nicolas Cage at the boxing ring he used to go to watch all the young kids box. I remember when I was younger he would always give me drills and boxing exercises to do to get me in shape, stick and move.

It's funny how I don't remember much of my childhood, but I do remember flying to some little cafe with my Grandpa in a tiny little plane that sat maybe 4 people. That's quite an experience for a little 7 year old boy.

He's such a nice guy. He'll talk to anyone, anytime. Just walk with him for a few minutes, he'll stop and talk to at least one random person. He's currently an active member in the Civil Air Patrol out in Southern California. I could go on and on about why I love this man so much, but I'd like to share some portraits I took of him while the kids were napping one afternoon. Enjoy!
Larry01.jpg

Larry02.jpg

Larry03.jpg

Larry04.jpg

Larry05.jpg

You can see some pictures of both my grandparents here (these were pre-logo, pre-big pics, but I love them anyway).  Aren't my grandparents so sweet?