"My earliest memory of my grandfather is sitting on his knee after he came home from work. I would count our cuts, scrapes, scabs, and bruises together - his from his construction job, mine from overzealous climbing at the playground. He was the epitome of toughness in my eyes, and I aspired to amass an equal amount of superficial wounds that matched the ones that always covered his hands and arms like a warrior's tattoos."
"This tough man would melt himself down in my presence, readily hunching his huge frame over so that I could inspect the newest additions to the collage on his skin. In gentle tones, he would express admiration for the minor injuries I proudly presented to him on my own little arms. This is my grandfather in a nutshell: a hard, intimidating man to the rest of the world, but a marshmallow with me."
The narrator moved in with their grandfather during the pandemic and expected a repetitive routine. Daily time allowed meaningful conversations and activities, leading them to become best friends. Early memories include sitting on his knee and counting cuts and bruises from work and playgrounds. The grandfather appeared tough but was gentle with the narrator, admiring minor injuries and showing tenderness. The narrator moved in at 28 for a few months before a yearlong trip. Becoming housemates made up for lost time. The grandfather provided unwavering unconditional love, while growing independence had previously created distance between their lives.
Read at Business Insider
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