My favorite word of all time.

When I was a little kid, my grandfathers were two of the most influential people in my life. On my fathers side, he was very caring, very giving, and would never let anyone, if he knew them or not, go hungry. He always greeted those in need with anything he could provide. This was more inspiring since he worked several jobs running delivery routs or sweeping floors at night just to keep food on the table for his 7 children. He inspired many of us to do anything we can to help those in need. A truly great man and despite not having a new car, big house, tons of money; at his funeral, the church was full, without room to even stand, we met almost everyone he helped that day, most of whom we met for the first time.

My grandfather on my mother’s side, was very much the same, any time I mention his name I hear people tell great stories about him. But this was a different situation, he came from a wealthier family, and maintained a high paying job, retiring when he was quite young. But the biggest thing about him (and his greatest gift to those around him) was his sense of humor, his humor comes in a form that has mostly been lost to the world, every part of life had its funny points, he could see someone in the worst situation of their lives and make that person legitimately laugh at their own predicament. At his funeral, there were just as many people all telling stories about him, most of the peopel laughed at the old stories he use to tell, and we all knew he would have wanted it that way, celebrating his life and the legacy he left rather than mourning his passing.(even now I tear up thinking back to that day) But he also maintained a lot of humor that can only be found routed in the deepest parts of the Pennsylvania Dutch culture. Anytime we would make him laugh (a regular game the 11 grandkids played to test his self control) he would call us a name, it’s old German meaning (not even in the German dictionaries) is not important but schnickelfritz was a name that even to this day brings a smile to my face and makes me realize that even though I can’t see it, there is always something funny about anything that is going on…it’s just a matter of letting someone else point the direction whether they know they are doing it or not.