Grandpa Carlile


Thoughts on the birth of my first grandchild.

To me, Grandpa Carlile will always be my grandfather, Jasper Leslie Carlile.

My parents lived about a hundred miles away from my grandparents when I was born, so I am sure I had contact with him in my first two and a half years of life (here's the proof. Me on Grandpa's lap, my cousin Janey on Grandma's). But we moved to Hawaii when I was two and a half, so most of my memories of Grandpa begin when we moved back, five years later.

Grandpa was a farmer. I have wonderful memories of driving out with him in his Ford pickup to places on the farm, especially the creek (pronounced "crick"). He was also president of the Benton County Fair for many years, and I remember the Benton County fair with great fondness.

Grandpa was a man with a great sense of humor, and loved his grandchildren very much.

From the time of his death in August of 1968, there was no Grandpa Carlile in our family (I mean of course my direct line. Jasper's brothers continued to be Grandpa Carliles, of course). this changed in January 1977 with the birth of my son Kenneth. My father, Keith Smith Carlile became Grandpa Carlile. Now, it's not the same, and Dad will always be Dad to me, not Grandpa, but I did think of Dad as Grandpa to my children. He was a good grandpa, too who also loved his grandchildren very much. I don't suppose my kids saw their grandpa as much as I did mine, since we live so much further away. But there were many times we got together , and I know he taught them as much as Grandpa taught me. Dad passed away in April, 2000, and again no Grandpa Carlile in the family (strict line, again. My Uncle Bob continues to be Grandpa Carlile).

Until now. Elliott Leonardo Schuyler Carlile was born on Friday, April 6, 2007 at 6:33 pm. He is my son Ken's son. So now I am become Grandpa Carlile. It is a staggering thought that I have now stepped into the role so ably filled by my two predecessors. I hope that I can live up to their example. One thing I know for sure, though. Like them, I love my grandchild very much.

Posted: Mon - April 9, 2007 at 04:55 PM          

©