Potato Poltergeist Identified…
“To the loyal and to the blood-lovers, in the good families and in the fiery dynasties, life is family and family is life. It is the same people who give advice and their vices to live well who turn out to be the ones who give resource and reason to live long.”
― Criss Jami, Healology
Follow-up on yesterday’s Poll Question blog post.
My maternal grandpa was a practical joker.
Grandpa was six years younger than my grandmother. The story goes that she didn’t find out until they went to get their marriage license. Her statement was that by that time it was too late.
He was well-regarded in his community, a founding member of his church, a man of faith, prayer, at one point he was a city councilman, proud of his family heritage, and the best grandfather a girl could hope for. He never went outside the house unless impeccably dressed, except to work in his garden or the shop out back.
I was the lucky recipient of his family tree notes- a huge binder of hand-written family genealogy. He taught me to value family, although I still haven’t found the Johnny Appleseed link he liked to talk about.
But all eulogy worthy accomplishments aside, grandpa loved practical jokes. His sense of humor was legendary and a constant source of alarm for my more serious grandmother.
For instance:
I will never forget the big steel washtub in the backyard that he filled with water, handed us fishing poles, and told us not to come inside until we caught fish for dinner.
Or the wooden dog he cut out and painted, chained to his front porch with a sign stating: Beware of Dog.
Our long summer walks to the creek to skip stones, even after grandma’s admonition to stay away from the water before we left.
Using pillows and washcloths for hats (everybody must have a hat).
Then there were the dinner shenanigans involving his false teeth – upper and lower – placed on the table – with grandpa always saying “Where’s my choppers?” Followed by the granddaughters exclaiming that we couldn’t eat anymore and grandpa’s response, “Well that’s just more for me!” that brought on gales of laughter (while my grandma was cringing in her seat at the other end of the table).
“Your grandpa is a man that you can love until the end of your life. I love my grandpa and respect him…”
― Chynna Weber
Last night, I had a convoluted story dream with many living family members all together, the details are fuzzy.
The ending is not: My grandfather Earnest came into view. He stood up to hug me tightly. Then told me that everyone is watching over me and they are proud.
Of course, I woke up crying.
Usually my grandfather doesn’t talk in dreams. He just hugs. Typically, someone dies shortly thereafter. Hopefully that isn’t the case this time.
But the poltergeist – no question. It was him —
my practical joking, loving, funny grandpa.
“I miss him still today: his long, whiskery eyebrows, his huge hands and hugs, his warmth, his prayers, his stories, but above all his shining example of how to live and how to die.”
― Bear Grylls, Mud, Sweat and Tears
I miss him today,
I will miss him tomorrow,
and I will see him again someday.
We will have a lot to catch up on, or perhaps not.
He’s watching over me,
he is proud,
and yesterday he let me know
in a beautiful dream and through getting my attention by flinging a potato across the room.
XO Lisa ❤️ living a gratitude filled life!
Grateful, Thankful, and Mending! 
Why the potato?
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I cannot answer that question…
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Mm, and yet that is the question 🙂
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Buggar… perhaps it was the perfect vehicle in the right place at the right time…
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Maybe, l couldn’t zoom in on the photographs properly but l think there are more clues to be had 🙂
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I don’t know if I had your email address I would send proper photos
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Here you go Lisa 🙂
aguycalledbloke63@gmail.com
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Perfect, will be sending
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Excellent, look forwards to them 🙂
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Sent!
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Lovely story about your family and your grandfather. do you think he visited and left the potato. He was a joker after all? Maybe he was missing you too! ❤️❤️❤️ Cindy
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I do!
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Ok, Lisa…..1st, what a wonderful tribute to a delightful man & grandfather. I smiled throughout, know this would’ve been a grandpa I would’ve adored…but, ooooh, I got that same eerie fear upon your dream. My grandmother, the topic of “I am my grandmother’s garden”, was a dreamer of dreams that consistently came to pass and the moment I read it, I too thought the same…”they typically come true” with a fearful heart. She always mentioned those types of dreams and also said to pay attention to the vibrant colored ones and those that come in 3’s.
Could be something or could be nothing but not risking anything so I immediately prayed for you! 😆🙏💕
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Thank you! I so appreciate your prayers, my friend! XO Lisa
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