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"SSC7 - Childhood Memories of You, You, You"

Sometimes I wonder if you actually watch me, watch what I do or what I say. Do you have the ability to do such things at all? I wonder how you’re doing anyway, grandpa, staring up from my stuffy bedroom through the confines of this ceiling. I can’t watch you, but I can dream, I can hope, and I can picture you up there spreading your aura of joy. I’m no religious person, but I often mull over why I choose that you are up, up above. You are a good man, grandpa, that is probably why; I will always remember that. I don’t know where you are really, but it ought to be somewhere perfect, somewhere wonderful, and somewhere sublime.

Oh how I recall the days of our escapades on sun bleached shores. I was still, a “lil’ nipper” back then as you’d exclaim, spurring me to climb to six-year-old feet and give chase to the jolly, yet slightly overweight figure of you. You might have been on the large side, grandpa, but you certainly didn’t lack strength or stamina. I recollect that I’d tire as the sun beat down in the middle of the day, scrambling for sun tan lotion, only to watch you lunge into the sea, and athletically swim out for what seemed like miles in comparison to my baby steps. Old in age perhaps, but I know not of somebody wealthier in health, love, or character.

I still have pictures of you pinned on the wall next to where I sleep, along with a letter you wrote to me about the war. I look at these snapshots, whilst distantly recalling our time together; times so memorable. I wonder whether you approve of my life now, if you approve of my partner, if you approve of my “lil’ rosy cheeked nippers”. I have always desperately wanted recognition from you of what I’ve made my life, recognition I’ll never receive. You always told me to wed a nice girl, not too pretty, not too daft, and to settle, bringing new life to the world. I respected that; I did that. The difficulty is that I think I did it because of you, I thought I was a replica of you, and family pointed that out along the way. To some extent I am, yes, but I can never match up to the fatherly proportions of you. Father you.

This isn’t a problem, as such, its just I almost feel inadequate for this life. I don’t feel I’m giving my “lil’ nippers” the enchantment, the childhood thrills and spills that they deserve. I blankly seek answers in all that I can recall of you, grandpa, I can assure you I do, but I never banish the idea that I wish you were still here to enthral them as you did me. They’d have loved your ghost stories, your wide sense of humour, your approach to life’s certain obstacles, grandpa, I just know they would. I know they’d adore you.

I don’t know if its dread that they’d have treasured your sublime self better than me that makes me experience these impulsive outbursts of emotion and reminiscence. Sometimes all that keeps me going through the day now, at nearing thirty years old, is the pledge that, one day, with any luck, I’ll be able to influence a grandson or daughter’s life eternally, and pass down that incredible aura of happiness that encircled you. I think it’s probably old age that gives way to this nonchalant attitude that you behold, or at least I hope. I still have my memories of us…an us that I hope can be relived, to an extent. These memories are cherished. These memories are far more sublime than any other time in my life.

That might sound strange, but its true. I long for further “lil’ nippers”, grandpa, I can assure that I do.

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4000th post, I notice (w00t!). This piece was written in dedication of my grandfather who passed away two and a half years ago today. Whilst most aspects of the piece are not true, its my time with him that inspired this, and I can only hope that a few of you enjoyed it, I personally think I could and should have done a lot better with it. Oh well.

Indeed there were, discount one or whatever, I was feeling creative.

Ah, so there were two, no?

Hmmm.

I'll pick your better one for you ;)

I liked this one a lot, again like matts', it's based on a far more personal experiance, unless you count my interpretation of FFFs story, which I'm doing, so it's irrelevant.

What?

Blah.

ANY-way, I liked.

You could sense the real emotion with which it was written, which made the piece even better. Wonderfully conveyed - I got that divine sense of quiet around me as I read.

Bittersweet and well written.

You captured the sentiment well. Contrary to popular opinion, I like heart-warming stories.

I quite enjoyed that, if I'm being honest. You could tell that it was written from a personal point of view, as it had little standout lines that amplified emotion, and such. I'll probably come backand edit, just to find an example.

It was a great entry, and I enjoyed reading it. I look forward to your next entry/SSC8

Good. Emotions were conveyed well.

Not perfect, but more of this style please :-)

My Grandad past away three years ago, and pretty much everything written here is how I feel when I start to think about it. You've managed to put those feelings into words, credit is given where credit is due - *gives credit*

Nice piece, in the right sense.

Curse you, fiend.