My Epiphany and My Grandfather

First, I had read a couple of blogs last Sunday morning before I went to work, had an epiphany, put it someone's comments and then couldn't remember what it was. Very Auntie Mandy of me! Anyway, here it is: It's hard to remember that as we lose, we need less fuel. Ah ha moment! Right this minute! Ack! that is why I have been fighting with the same 5 pounds for over 2 months! When I get down to my lowest, the same workouts are not doing the same for me! They are actually doing LESS! HAHA! Thank you! So, now that I found it, I am going to change my workouts a little. I'll get back to you on that.

Now, I'm going to tell you a story about a man that would be the worst food role model, ever. I mean really, ever. My grandfather was #8 of 9 kids. He saw my grandmother eating a chocolate bar, asked her for a bite, she said, yes and the rest is history. My grandfather was a big man. He really wasn't overweight. He was 6' 2" and weighed in the 240s. He had a big barrel chest, and I used to love to lay my head on it and listen to him sing. I remember him having a beautiful voice.

I mostly remember my grandfather being sick. He had quadruple bi-pass surgery when I was 8. He was, shortly after, diagnosed with leukemia. Then he was in a really bad accident driving a delivery truck, which they did exploratory surgery, found a mass of cancer, and it spread. He also, at some point during this time, was diagnosed with "sugar diabetes." He was raised in Kentucky, so you have to say "sugar" diabetes.

My grandfather also loved to eat. He would make all kinds of appreciative moans and other noises whenever he ate. When he was diagnosed with sugar diabetes, he had to change his diet. Well, my Italian grandmother was a nurse. She loves to help people (run their lives). She fed him only what he was allowed to eat. He didn't change because he decided that was what was best for him, he did it because she made him. Everytime we went to see them, my grandfather would see us eat a cookie and say, "You keep eaten' them cookies, you gonna get sugar diabetes! *whisper* Now give Poppa a bite." Then I'd hear my grandmother yell, "POPS! You stop eating those cookies! I can hear you enjoying them in here!" And she was always so curious as to why his blood sugar was so high!

Around this time, my grandfather also spent a lot of time in the garage "shining his shoes." My grandma was in the garage, doing laundry one day while he was at work and she noticed a spoon hanging in the garage. She didn't think much about it, so she grabbed it so it could be washed. When he got home from work, he went out to the garage to shine his shoes. He came right back into the house and said, "Mother! Where is my ice cream spoon?!" BUSTED! No matter what she did, she could never change him. She thought she was changing his diet, she thought she was helping him, but really, he hadn't changed at all.

My grandfather died in 1994 at the age of 68. It was the cancer that got him. At the time of his final diagnosis he had pancreatic, prostate, liver, leukemia, and lung cancer. He treated all of his grandkids like each and every one was his favorite. I miss him. But I will always remember him, and his spoon.