Specifically my grandpa who lives in Bakersfield.
He and my dad are extremely alike, and therefore don't exactly get along very well. So it seems fitting, me being so alike my own father, that my grandfather and I get along so well.
He is known for his long stories about people from exercise class, or a neighbor down the street. Stories about people that no one else but him and grandma know, and no one but them particularly care to hear (except me, i love them!) He also is a lover of the casinos, and was the person that my brothers and I learned how to cheat in card games from! His motto: "if you're not cheating, you're not trying" resounds in my head whenever I'm tempted to throw out a few extra cards during apples to apples :)
Last Christmas he gave me the best present I've ever received- his old antique cameras. It was such a surprise because when i had showed interest in them during our last visit he had said "well ok, one day they will be yours then" and thats what he says about things he doesn't want to give up just yet, but will be given to us only after he dies. So when last Christmas rolled around i was shocked when i opened an old dog food box full of cameras! It's the only present I've ever gotten teary-eyed from!
This Christmas we spent a good few hours discussing his childhood and our family's history. It was so wonderful, and I have pages in my journal covered with notes and names and stories of Hamlett history.
