Grandpa Jim

21 years ago today, my grandpa passed away. He was just 70 years old. His life wasn't always easy. He didn't talk much about his past; I know he was deeply affected by his broken family and his experiences in World War II, but when I think of him, what I remember is a soft-spoken guy who loved his grandkids and doted on them.

One of my sister's fond memories is of Grandpa letting her play beauty salon and put a bunch of barrettes in his hair. I always giggle at the memory of the way he'd offer all kinds of snacks when we were over there - "Do you want a peanut? You can have a peanut. Do you want a pretzel? You can have a pretzel."

Grandpa loved to garden and every spring/summer planted and tended an enormous one in his back yard. My grandparents lived in a neighborhood, but had almost an acre of land. There was room for rows and rows of corn, tomatoes, beans, peppers...he loved hot peppers, the hotter the better.

He taught our parakeet, Bugit, to talk after pet-sitting him while we were on a trip to northern Michigan. Hours upon hours of patience and practice from Grandpa; by the time we came to pick Bugit up, we had a chatty little bird who never stopped talking!

Grandpa and Grandma

James Donald Ballard, born 8/7/1924, passed 11/3/1994. I will always miss you and remember you with love. Thank you for being such a great grandpa to me, my sister, and my cousins.

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