Okay, so I’m waaay late on this post, mostly because it’s a personal post and a long one, which feels a little indulgent. But, I’m hoping you’ll humor me.

My grandfather, Ugly, as he is affectionately known by us grandkids, celebrated his….wait for it…..100th birthday on August 25. Yup, 1-0-0 years…talk about a milestone!

He has experienced much in his life and has seen incredible changes, inventions, discoveries, births and death. So much has happened in our world over the past 100 years and he was there to witness all of it.

I wrote him a little poem/tribute in honor of his birthday a couple of years ago that seems appropriate to share on this momentous occasion. But first, I’ll share some photos, since that’s probably what you come here to see.

The assisted living facility that Gramps now calls home threw a big party, complete with a giant cake, balloons, and some seriously giggle-inducing entertainment by a former Vegas lounge singer who seemed smitten with my aunt. At one point, they performed a duet that caused one of the residents sitting behind me to say, “I thought he was going to kiss her.” (I gotta be honest, I did too!) It was brilliant!

The cafeteria was packed, with all of the residents (and several family members) there to celebrate Gramp’s 100 years…or maybe they were just there for the free cake. Either way, it was a great afternoon! Here are a few of my favorite moments from the party…

The man of the hour….UGLY (aka Michael Ferullo)

The staff at the residence baked a huge strawberry shortcake for Ugly and the great grandkids helped him blow out the candles.

The Mayor of Revere even came to the party to present Gramps with a citation. My grandfather’s face when he saw the Mayor was priceless!

Look at him just beaming with pride. I just love him!!! After he left, Gramps said that he thought that the mayor had come to his party because he heard what a nice guy he was and how he never had a bad thing to say about anyone. If you know my grandfather, you’re laughing right now. Don’t get me wrong, I ADORE my grandfather and hold him on the highest of pedestals. But, he is by no means perfect and certainly isn’t the most accepting, open-minded person. He’s an old dog and very set in his ways. If you agree with him, you’re in good standing, but if you don’t…look out…he bites!

Ugly with my sister, Kimmy, and her delicious daughter, Sadie.

My aunts and the singer coaxed Gramps to get up and sing a Frank Sinatra number. I love his face…he’s like, “Will  someone get me the hell outta here!” Priceless!

My cousin’s son, Andrew, boogies on down! I love this little munchkin. (PS…his dad, my cousin, Andy, made it out of ICU this summer and is now home from the hospital, after receiving a bone marrow transplant. It’s been a long, hard battle and the fight marches on…please keep him in your prayers!)

A few days later, our family got together again to celebrate Ugly’s birthday with a party at my aunt’s house. It was a great day and here are a few of my favorite moments from our afternoon together….

We made a special present for Gramps, a canvas wrap print featuring 100 reasons why we all love him. I read them outloud to Gramps, who seemed bored after the fifth reason. But, I kept torturing the grumpy old coot!

This is him before he got bored….

Sadie looks on curiously while shoving a chocolate cupcake in (and on) her face.

Mr. Popularity takes a call from my cousin, Jason, who recently moved to California and couldn’t make it home for the party. I love the shades over his glasses….classic Hollywood!

Sadie hangs out with her favorite Uncle Andy.

While her brother, Calvin, enjoys some good times on the slip & slide with his second cousins…

Time for cake…again…

Andy with his favorite girl, Sadie. Check out Andy rockin’ out Grandpa’s shades. Sexxxy….

In this next photo, I’m snuggling up with Sadie & my cousin, Carla’s little boy, Cole. I just love how Cole is giving Sadie a suspicious look. He & I bonded that day and I like to think he’s wondering how to push her out of the way so he can get snag all of my attention for himself.

Lovely Sadie…

With her best friend, Douglas the monkey.

Cole & his mommy share some snuggle time.

Uncle Andy is like the Pied Piper of little kids. They just LOVE him and he loves them. It’s one of the things that made me fall in love with him. How can you resist a man who children love? You just know he is good through and through.

Cal, relishes the attention and playtime with his favorite Uncle and is the first to jump on the pig pile.

Nap time for Sadie…I just love the light skimming off her crazy cute pigtails!

My cousin, Monica, and her super sweet son, Jan Williams, share a moment.

It was a great time with family. As we get older, we don’t all get together as much as we used to, so having the chance to get together and celebrate such a wonderful occasion was truly a blessing! We love you Ugly and treasure your presence in our lives! xoxo

And, if you’re interested in some sub-par poetry (actually, I’m not sure it qualifies as poetry per se, but I enjoyed writing it), here’s the tribute I wrote for my Gramps in celebration of his birthday. I actually wrote it a few years ago, but revised it slightly for this post. My grandfather was always THE BEST storyteller. He loved to tell a story almost as much as we grandkids loved hearing him talk about the good ole days. His memory isn’t quite what it used to be anymore, and today’s stories have more to do with who’s bugging him this week at the assisted living facility than they do with memories from his past. But, I will forever think of my grandfather as the man who loved big and lived to share the stories of his life.

1909

1909—what a marvelous year!
It was the year you came into this world.
I would not know you for almost 60 years,
But in that time you would experience many things,
Creating memories you would one day share with me.

Although I never knew what life was like growing up on a farm in Arlington,
Or what it was like to wake at 4 Am, drive a wind-up old pick up truck into Fanieul Hall,
And deliver the family’s produce.
Tho’ I know nothing of cutting glass or of making leather shoes.
And while I have never seen a Great Depression, a war of the world, or the birth of rock n’ roll,
I feel as though I have experienced all of these things (because of you).
I can smell the air as it was in 1909—thick with the promise of an industrial revolution,
Yet as pure and sweet as a garden tomato.

And woven with these stories of bygone days are memories of my own:
Summer afternoons spent frolicking in a flower-covered plastic pool,
Eating potato salad like only Grandma can make.
Christmases where children could drink red wine with ginger ale,
Where presents were abundant,
But none so precious as the love you lavished on us.

Yours was a place where nickels and quarters seemed to grow under a worn-out old recliner;
Where I learned to appreciate the joy of working with my hands,
And where I often marveled at how the skin on your still nimble hands held its shape
Long after I stopped pinching.

And though I left you after each visit, my arms packed full of leftovers,
Old lamps you re-wired, mismatched dish towels,
Or refinished treasures you saved for me,
Nothing could compare with the fullness of my heart.

Oh, how my cup runneth over with all you have given me.

Never will I forget the exuberant youthfulness of your face that day at Fenway,
When you and Dad fought over a foul ball.
Never will I forget the smell of mothballs on hand-knitted wool blankets,
Or the taste of fresh mint picked from your backyard.
All these precious gifts you have given me Grandpa are impossible to repay,
So today, on this day—August 25, 2009,
I give you only this…three words spoken with more feeling than they could ever express—
I love you.
I love you for all you are, for all you have ever been, and for all you have given to me!
I am truly a better person for having you in my life!

Forever yours,
Chrissy