The legacies we leave

My grandfather was larger than life. He was a big man with a sharp intellect, a sharper sense of humor, and a loooong memory. Must be those Prussian genes that, fortunately for my wife and friends, were diluted once they reached me. He was the quintessential depression-era farm kid and career navy man who retired to the good life in San Diego, the "land of perfect weather" as he used to say.  

I never knew Charles as a young man, being his grandson and all, but I will forever remember him for two traits that we all had to deal with in his later years. First, he was frugal to the point of ridiculousness and would risk social harmony or good manners to save a penny. Guests were often treated to the famous Costco hot dog special ($1.50 for a dog and a drink) rather than a nice meal out. Though to be fair he was a darn good cook, particularly when grilled meat was involved. Second, he loved tradition and had a long list of favorite sayings that the family still quotes to this day.  

Grandpa's most famous saying was that fish and guests smell after three days. This tied into his sense of propriety, as well as a deep-seated desire to be independent and self-reliant at all times and in all matters.  His second most famous saying was never skimp on shoes, tires, or a mattress.  His logic was that we're always relying on one of those three to get us around or through the next day, and to not pay for quality was to risk the health and productivity of both yourself and your family.  

It was this latter saying that kept popping into my head as I bought new tires today. A solid brand, not too expensive, and recommended by Consumer Reports (the periodical that guided my Grandfather's every purchase).  This is not something you normally spend a lot of time thinking about, but we recently buried my grandfather at Arlington National Cemetery and I'm still processing the loss. Alzheimer's had taken it's toll and it was definitely his time, but I miss him still and he's in my thoughts more often then not. Yesterday, I even had a Costco hot dog in his honor. I'm not a  believer in spirits or the afterlife, but somehow I felt his approval as I pulled out my Costco card.