What? Why? Versions.

I have a project to complete.

An evident gap that needs filling.

As I've grown older, an undeniable truth has made itself clear.  It is not inherently happy or sad, just true. I am a different person now than I was at ten years old.  At ten, I had navigational knowledge of the neighborhood sewer system and greatly feared the fastballs of mustached 12 year-olds.  At twenty-four, I slug coffee and am free to shape my world, all while fearing landing a job that means nothing to me.

These are two vastly different people.  There are very few people, dogs, or even trees who have known both of them.

This brings me to the subjects of my project.

I have four living grandparents.  This is not common for those at twenty-four.  They have webbed their love through the diapers, dumb books, sewers, mustaches, and sweltering graduations, all for my benefit.  They know every version of me, but what do I know of them?

One of Grandpa Boyle's five rehearsed (and frequently deployed) jokes is: "buy me, take me, give me, I want!", spoken in a very unconvincing whiny, baby voice.  Of course, this is often unleashed when, quite reasonably, one of us asks for a spoon at dinner, or is offered a glass of water from Grandma, but, that aside, the joke is SPOT ON.  The only version I, or any of my siblings or cousins, have ever known of my grandparents is the one that simply provides.  Almost never scolding (that’s left to the parents), and certainly no significant help provided BY us FOR them.  They are retired.  They read newspapers, check box scores, and show up to everything early.  

The unending fountains of giving that they have all become is a testament to their character, surely, but it is NOT the whole story, and I don't want it to be.

I've heard hearsay that Grandma Boyle grew up on a farm whilst terrified of cows (it's genetic) and somehow was a fantastic amateur speed skater...  What?

Grandad McCarley got drafted into World War II, arrived just as the fighting was ending, and naturally took up a motorcycle tour of Europe. HUH!?

These people have stories.  Those two fun facts alone open my brain up to all of the depth in them I haven't seen, simply because I have only known one version.

They have stories and those stories need finding out and they need telling.

And that's what I aim to do.

Armed with the thoughtful assistance of many friends and the thoughtful + financial assistance of my family, I will be conducting interviews on all shapes and sizes of people to uncover the stories behind Alice Hannah, Ben McCarley, Mary Reynolds, and Don Boyle. The stars of the show will of course be the four grandparents themselves.  I want to know each version of each, so that I and all of their loved ones may love them more fully and accurately.  I also hope more than anything that this will be a gift to them, a switching of the roles for the first time ever.  Please hit me with your thoughts and advice, as I have never conducted interviews or wielded the necessary equipment. Really, the only part of this I have done before is a blog for a trip to Nicaragua, which is why everything you're reading is ca$h.

In all seriousness, thanks for reading.  Stay in touch.  Stay tuned.

-Tim