Today is my grandfather, Elliott Maguire’s 90th birthday, and to my deep regret, I am on the other side of the world from him, unable to help him celebrate it. This post is dedicated to him, and to all of my grandparents.
When I think back to happy times of my childhood, most of them surround times that my grandparents were a part of. Running barefoot through orange groves, and sitting in the bed of a pick-up truck, peeling tangerines. Sitting on the floor of the beach house living room, not on the couch because no wet bathing suits were allowed. Little bowls of Werthers Originals candy (just like in the commercials!), instant grits mixed with cheese slices, and cold Cokes in the fridge. And of course, all of the Gator games our family has attended throughout the years- had my grandfather never gone to UF, we wouldn’t be the fans we are today.
When we are young, we take our grandparents for granted. They are they there to give us presents and spoil us when our parents won’t. Trips to see them means vacation, but usually we would rather going to Disney World, so we squander these precious moments we are given. It is not until nature takes a hold that we begin to realize their mortality, and begin to comprehend the amount of time we have left with them. Before I was born, I had already lost 2 grandparents, and another one lost when I was young, and one of my great grievances of life is that I never got to know them.
With our grandparents, we are given a rare glimpse into a simpler time, into a different world. You can read all the history books you want, but no text compares to the first hand account that they can share with you. Sometimes we dismiss the older generations, citing the new ideas and technologies of the world- and this is where we err. Mankind is built on experiences, we would not be where we are today with those that come before us.
One thing we usually fail to recognize is our grandparent’s deep and undying love for us. To them, we are extensions of themselves, living on in a new and exciting world. Our grandparents only ever want the world for us, that we may have easy lives filled with happiness and love. It is only at the end of ones life that one realizes what is most important, and our grandparents try to convey it to us daily. To them, we have the world at our fingertips, and for their sake I believe we should be doing everything in our power to grasp it. Without our grandparents, we would not be here today, both in the physical sense and the motivational sense.
My grandfather, Elliott Leo Maguire, aka Poppy, is my hero. He has been a constant in my life, through the good times and the bad. He bravely served his country and then came home and built a family that today cherishes each other over all else. His house always meant family and happiness as I grew up. Around him is a tightly weaved web of support and love, and in my eyes as a child and even now, he holds it all together. Recently, my grandfather began to suffer the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Diseases, and day-by-day they become more apparent. I know that the day will soon come when my grandfather no longer recognizes me as his granddaughter, a relative, or even someone he knows. No matter when that day comes, though, I will continue to show him my love and adoration as long as he is with us. My Poppy means the world to me, and I can only hope that one day I have as much of an effect on my grandchildren as my grandparents have had on me.
To My Grandparents: You are my inspiration; I love you and thank you for all of the support you have given me through the years.
Elliott Maguire
Derry Williams
Vivian Maguire
Wayne Williams
Geraldine Maguire
Juanita Maguire
And also to those who looked over me and loved me as if I were their own grandchild:
Bob and Dot Maguire
Joan Lewis
When I think back to happy times of my childhood, most of them surround times that my grandparents were a part of. Running barefoot through orange groves, and sitting in the bed of a pick-up truck, peeling tangerines. Sitting on the floor of the beach house living room, not on the couch because no wet bathing suits were allowed. Little bowls of Werthers Originals candy (just like in the commercials!), instant grits mixed with cheese slices, and cold Cokes in the fridge. And of course, all of the Gator games our family has attended throughout the years- had my grandfather never gone to UF, we wouldn’t be the fans we are today.
When we are young, we take our grandparents for granted. They are they there to give us presents and spoil us when our parents won’t. Trips to see them means vacation, but usually we would rather going to Disney World, so we squander these precious moments we are given. It is not until nature takes a hold that we begin to realize their mortality, and begin to comprehend the amount of time we have left with them. Before I was born, I had already lost 2 grandparents, and another one lost when I was young, and one of my great grievances of life is that I never got to know them.
With our grandparents, we are given a rare glimpse into a simpler time, into a different world. You can read all the history books you want, but no text compares to the first hand account that they can share with you. Sometimes we dismiss the older generations, citing the new ideas and technologies of the world- and this is where we err. Mankind is built on experiences, we would not be where we are today with those that come before us.
One thing we usually fail to recognize is our grandparent’s deep and undying love for us. To them, we are extensions of themselves, living on in a new and exciting world. Our grandparents only ever want the world for us, that we may have easy lives filled with happiness and love. It is only at the end of ones life that one realizes what is most important, and our grandparents try to convey it to us daily. To them, we have the world at our fingertips, and for their sake I believe we should be doing everything in our power to grasp it. Without our grandparents, we would not be here today, both in the physical sense and the motivational sense.
My grandfather, Elliott Leo Maguire, aka Poppy, is my hero. He has been a constant in my life, through the good times and the bad. He bravely served his country and then came home and built a family that today cherishes each other over all else. His house always meant family and happiness as I grew up. Around him is a tightly weaved web of support and love, and in my eyes as a child and even now, he holds it all together. Recently, my grandfather began to suffer the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Diseases, and day-by-day they become more apparent. I know that the day will soon come when my grandfather no longer recognizes me as his granddaughter, a relative, or even someone he knows. No matter when that day comes, though, I will continue to show him my love and adoration as long as he is with us. My Poppy means the world to me, and I can only hope that one day I have as much of an effect on my grandchildren as my grandparents have had on me.
To My Grandparents: You are my inspiration; I love you and thank you for all of the support you have given me through the years.
Elliott Maguire
Derry Williams
Vivian Maguire
Wayne Williams
Geraldine Maguire
Juanita Maguire
And also to those who looked over me and loved me as if I were their own grandchild:
Bob and Dot Maguire
Joan Lewis
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