Interview with Grandpa

Hello everyone! Today I am interviewing my grandpa. 🙂 Thank you for joining me here on my blog, Grandpa!

Let’s start the questions:

Tell us a bit about yourself

I like to make life interesting through thinking and doing.

What are some of your favorite hobbies?

Besides grafting?  Making healthy food from scratch for my ” One and Only”. I don’t think it’s cool to be too lazy to do things the way they may have been done hundreds of years ago…. when I was your age.

What is your first childhood memory?

Ok. This will sound random but my first *vivid* memory is of my bassinet. From the inside, of course, because I was older when I learned that it had legs. It was basically a half barrel lined with a cotton cloth. In one end was a black Bakelite threaded plug that screwed into a drain of sorts. I guess. I have no recollection of ever seeing it drained and I’d rather not contemplate what would be sent down the drain. It has difficult to grasp with my little fingers. It wasn’t frustrating not being able to unscrew it to get it out to play with. After all, I had nothing else to do.

When you were young what was one thing you wanted to do with your life?

I reckon I wasn’t bright enough to be concerned with such “Big Picture” issues.

What are five fun facts about you?

A.  Thinking can be a sport
B.  If it can be grafted, it should
C.  I’d rather hang a bag swing from a tree than catch a mole by its stubby little tail
D.  Sunrises with cappuccino beat laying in bed till afternoon
E.  Grandsons don’t have to actually catch fish when we go fishing…but it’s better than having walls that are too far apart to climb

How much of the world have you seen?

Just a very small part of 54 countries, but enough to know that people are much more the same than they are different from one another. I’ve seen enough to be amazed by the diversity and creativity displayed in unsuspecting places.

What is your favorite country?

USA. After living with five different alphabets, some of the most cherished words one can hear are, “Welcome home to America!”

If I had to pick another, it would be difficult. The food, architecture and acceptance in Italy was surprising. The people of Japan were an even bigger surprise. The rich culture and social conventions of bowing (so as not to transmit pathogens) and appearing somewhat distant, belie a warmth and tenderness of heart that characterized so many Asians. When confronted by the question, “Where would you want to be at the turning of the millennium?”, I chose to return to Salzburg.

If you could go back and talk to your teenage self, what would you say?

“Self, don’t be stupid!”  “Continue to stand up for what is right and don’t worry about others who make poor choices because of social pressure.” “Be yourself but be your best self.” “Sin less. Love more.”

What is your greatest goal in life?

To be faithful.

What do you want to say to the people reading this blog?

Be yourself but be the best self you were created to be. Choose to create as few regrets for yourself as possible, being human and all.

Thank you so much, Grandpa!!! 🙂 ❤