1. Hayes_L 1,505 words
Grandpa’s Truck
My name is Kelly and I was born at Pardee Hospital in Hendersonville,
NC on June 28, 1968. I have many fond memories but my favorite memory is of my
Grandpa’s blue with white trim pickup truck that he bought brand new in 1980.
Many times, I’ve looked out my living room window to see Grandpa’s truck parked
in front of my home. I was only twelve years old when Grandpa bought it in 1980.
I looked forward to seeing it every day that it was there.
It is not a new truck now but it runs beautifully, unlike other trucks that age.
Grandpa did all the maintenance on it and he even washed it himself. Through the
years the inside of the truck took on the smell of my Grandpa’s aftershave. I still
love the scent of Old Spice. It brings back loving memories of my Grandpa. His truck
is very special to me. I remember the first time I saw it. The seats were the same
color blue of the outside of the truck. It had that brand new smell to it. I thought it
was the most beautiful truck I had ever seen. My Grandpa, though he is aging , is
very active and also extremely independent. The truck has never been wrecked and
is in excellent condition. This truck was the one that I learned to drive for the first
time with my Grandpa in the passenger seat encouraging me even though I wasn’t
that great at driving. Over the years, I have gotten much better. My Grandpa was a
very patient man when he taught me to drive. So, slowly but surely, I learned to
drive and received my driver’s license. I remember the day so well. It was a bright
sunny day in April. The flowers were starting to bloom, the smell of spring was in
the air and every morning, I awoke to the birds singing in the huge oak tree outside

2. my bedroom window. Winter was finally over. Of all the seasons, Fall has always
been my favorite but. Spring is the season for awakening after a long, cold winter.
Grandpa arrived bright and early to take me for my driving test. I was so nervous
but I passed and received my driver’s license. It was such an exciting day for me. So,
I was too happy to share it with the man who taught me to drive. I loved my
Grandpa dearly. To celebrate, Grandpa took me out to lunch and then shopping. He
was so proud of me. Quite frankly, I was very proud of myself also.
When I turned 14 years old, my parents were hit head-on by a drunk driver.
My Dad died instantly but my Mom held on for two days and died at Pardee Hospital
while in a coma. My Grandpa came and took me to his home to live. He fought for
custody of me and got it regardless of his age; which made me very happy. My
Grandpa was given custody of me but for three months someone from the court
would come for a weekly visit. I guess they had to make sure that I was happy and
adjusting to living with my Grandpa. Without my parents, I needed my Grandpa.
We grieved the loss together . We were the last two of our family. I treasured every
moment with my Grandpa. My bedroom in my Grandpa’s house was where I would
always go when I was feeling lost and missing my parents. Grandpa always allowed
me my space when I needed it. On one wall of my bedroom, I had a poster of Kevin
Bacon. I loved his movie “Footloose” and learned to dance just like him. On another
wall is a poster of Steve Perry, my favorite singer. I love his voice.. My favorite song
of his and Journey’s is “Oh Sherry.” On my nightstand is my parent’s wedding
picture. They were so young. My Mom left me the beautiful blue jewelry with
diamonds set that my Daddy gave to her the day they were married. I think I will

3. wear it on my wedding day. John and I are getting very close now. I miss
them so much but my Grandpa is here and he is good to me.
We did so many things together. In the summer, Grandpa would take
me fishing and we would picnic by the pond. In the fall, we raked leaves, picked
apples and later enjoyed his homemade apple cider and joked with each other. In
the winter, he would take me sledding. In the evenings, I would sit next to him in
front of a warm crackling fire and listen to his stories of his past life. I loved him so
much and still do! Without my parents, he was the only constant in my life. I felt
like he was my Mother and Father all rolled into one.
I remember in 1980 when Ronald Reagan became president. My Grandpa
said “just how in the world can an actor become president and just what kind of
president would he be?” I smiled each time he complained about President Reagan
being a former actor because once Grandpa realized the President Reagan wasn’t
so bad as our president, his grumbling began to cease.
Though my Grandpa worked hard every day with his two employees in his
apple orchards. He was always home when I came in from school and always
made sure I had healthy meals and even helped me with my homework. Grandpa
always trusted me to drive his truck because he knew how much I loved it.
He would let me drive it to the store or even to a friend’s house.
In 1985 when I was 17 years old John wanted to take me to my
Senior prom. When I got home from school, I ran into the house to tell Grandpa.
O course he wanted to meet the boy first and told me I had to be home by midnight.
Then I remembered that I had nothing to wear to the prom so Grandpa took me

4. shopping to get the most perfect prom outfit. There were so many prom dresses to
to choose from but I finally chose one and we took it home. I remember feeling so
grownup and going to my senior prom with my date. John was such a nice boy and
we still date even now.
Another fond memory of my Grandpa is when he took me to the movies to
see Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and then again the following week to see The
Breakfast Club. Though he did not enjoy the movies like I did, he would sit through
them all and then listen to me ramble on and on about them. He also took me to
see my favorite actor in his movie “Footloose.” I never tired of dancing just like
Kevin Bacon. I guess you could say that he was my “idol.”
My Grandpa passed away a few days ago in his sleep. I was glad for that
because at least he wasn’t in pain
Among other things, my Grandpa left the truck to me. I also inherited his
his house and all of his land with the apple orchards. I now have 4 employees and I
still keep the books on Grandpa’s IBM computer I miss my Grandpa everyday but
when my memories come flooding back to me, I go for a ride in my Grandpa’s truck.
The scent of his Old Spice is still in the seats and I listen to the music that he loved. I
will always keep his truck in top -notch condition just like he did. However, I have a
mechanic in Hendersonville that does all the work on it for me. I do wash it myself j
just like Grandpa and I did when he was alive.
So many memories of my Grandpa linger. My Grandpa raised me to
adulthood and loved me unconditionally as I did him. He was such a good man.
When my parents died in the car crash, he did not hesitate to take me into his home.

5. I am blessed because of my Grandpa’s love for me. He was both mother and father
to me and I wanted for nothing. We weren’t rich but we had plenty of love to make
up the difference. I will miss my Grandpa everyday of my life but I feel his presence
all the time. I feel it when I clean his bedroom or when I sit by a cozy fire. I feel it
even more when I climb in his truck. I can still see him smiling at me and telling me
that he loves me. I also can still smell his Old Spice and I listen to his music when I
drive his truck. I think I will keep his truck forever. It was a part of him and now is a
part of me!
Grandpa's truck.jpg