Grandpa Al

When I met Grandpa Al for the first time about five years ago, I was surprised that he was tall and big because many Japanese Grand parents are shorter or smaller than their children and Grand children. I was almost saying "Wow!" to him.
I heard that Grandpa corrected people's English, so I tried not to say "yeah" and tried to say "yes." He sometimes asked us to make sure what we meant "correct?" I like it. I would use it to Avram and Airi.
Avram and I skypped with Grandpa and Grandma Lillian on weekends, especially after his favorite teams' football games. We could imagine how he was like in front of the TV.
Grandpa sometimes read our blogs. His favorite one is this one. It's about that I farted in front of Avram and a bird got crushed by the gas. Avram liked that Grandpa picked the story.

Airi met Grandpa on January 24th, Monday. First she was nervous with him. But Grandpa talked to her and came down from a chair to Airi and sat on the floor with her. He showed sharing food with other people to Airi. Airi didn't get it at first, but after a while she gave her favorite fruits to Grandpa. I can imagine that he was a good teacher.

Avram, Airi, and I visited Lake Worth. We all wanted to spend time with Grandpa and Grandma as much as we can in this trip. It was for Avram and me, but more for Airi.
Airi was getting used to Fox family. She talked to Grandpa. Grandpa sometimes missed her communications to him, but Grandma said, "Al, Airi is talking to you" to Grandpa. Then Airi got his smiles.

At our last visit to Lake Worth for this winter, Airi was very comfortable with Grandpa and Grandma. She went to sleeping Grandpa and talked to him even though he didn't answer.
Airi liked Grandpa's toes. She touched his toes when she walked by him and tried to put his slippers on his feet, but always failed it. Then she made me do it.

On February 16th, Tuesday, Airi and Grandpa were talking and smiling to each other even though they didn't understand each other. They were sitting on rocking chairs next to each other and enjoying the time.

Next morning, Grandpa Al was very sick. Airi knew that Grandpa is not right. She was standing and watching him. I kept calling him "Grandpa, Grandpa!" Airi learned the word then. She also called him "Grandpa" a few times very clearly. It was her first time to say the word. Airi looked scared to see what's going on. She couldn't walk to him on the day.
Even if Airi is a 15 month old baby, she has sense with people's feeling. After a few days, she looked for Grandpa at their house when we visited Lake Worth. She went to Grandpa and Grandma's room, but couldn't find him.

We got nice pictures and videos from this winter. They were very good memories for us.
In Japan, we have pictures of our families on the wall. Airi has looked at them and waved her hand to them every morning since she is one year old.
The pictures and videos will remind us of Grandpa very well. Then Airi will never forget that she had a great time with him.

We Japanese say the person who passed away is alive in our minds. I am sure that he is in Airi's.
I will remember him everyday when Airi eats a lot of food. She follows him with that part very well.