Day 49 - July 2, 2010 - Little Leaper

"A grandfather is someone with silver in his hair and gold in his heart."
-Author Unknown

All right, I know what you're thinking. Why take a picture of a little plastic pony with a chewed up ear and dingy yellow hair? Well, here's the deal. I talked about all the crazy things I was finding in my closet in a previous entry. Here's something I found in one of my drawers that I simply could not part with. I doubt I ever will. Funny how silly little things like this mean so much to us. Here's the scoop, though. My grandpa Charlie bought this for me when I was about 3 years old. You'd think it would have gotten pitched long ago seeing as grandparents typically shower their grand kids with little trinkets and such. But, there's a lot more to the story here.

You see, "little leaper" (as I affectionately dubbed him at the ripe old age of 3) is the only thing I have left that my grandpa Charlie gave me. In fact, I remember when he took me shopping and bought it for me. I doubt it cost more than $3. He also bought me a bag of peppermint candies. I think that's why I like peppermint so much. That shopping trip is one of the most distinct memories I have of my grandpa Charlie. Some of the others, I'm not so fond of. He passed away when I was 4. One of the other distinct memories I have of him was when he was in the hospital. But, you know, when I think about that moment, his smile sticks out the most in my mind.

So, yes, "little leaper" has a chewed up ear and mangy hair, but I love his story. Where he came from, that is. Who he came from.

I'm gonna go find myself some mint candies now!