Tough Love

There is always those grumpy old people
that like to make other people’s life harder.
Complaining about every small thing they can,
Yelling at people for taking shortcuts in their yard,
and making up stories about walking to ten buck two.
To them the kids these days just aren't the same.
Well that one hard-ass old dude,
was my grandpa,
and looking back, I realized that I always loved him.
I just always thought he was tough to love.
But, I somehow came to be his best friend.

My grandfather’s name was David Burger.
A Vietnam war veteran, hardened by the aspects of war.
He was tall but had a small and skinny build for a man.
Always wearing his cowboy boots, ready for a young lady to come give him some lovin’.

I can still hear the click of his boots hitting off the Mcdonalds tile floor,
While his keys jiggled, clipped to his leather belt.
My mom forced me to go with him for breakfast so the smallest things irritated me.
Not to mention he came to pick me up on his Harley Davidson motorcycle at 7 in the morning in the 50 degree weather.

As we go in to get breakfast, he tells me to go pick a table to sit at.
I picked our table close to the window looking out into the town.
While I was wandering off into space looking out the window, I heard a commotion up at the front.
It was my grandpa.
Of course…

I went up there to see what the commotion was.
My grandpa was complaining that they raised the price of his coffee.
I am so embarrassed.
Grandpa, what's the problem?
They raised the price of my coffee, all they want is to take people’s money.
I asked him how much more it was.
It’s 45 cents more, he said.
Are you serious ? You’re really mad about 45 cents ?
Why was he so hard-headed, and grumpy?
Why couldn’t I have a different grandpa?
One that's sweet, one that wouldn’t hurt a fly, the one that was wise.

After all the commotion, we finally got our food to be able to go sit down and eat.
Still talking under his breath about the 45 cent up-charge.
“Grandpa, why did you pick me up on your motorcycle?
It’s early, and cold outside.”
“Bubba, when you get older you’ll understand. That thing right there gets me girls ages 21 through 75.”

“Oh my god.” as a big grin comes across my face.
I was easily embarrassed about things like that.
As he smiles with me he says
“ I love you to what ?”
“The moon and back grandpa.”
“That’s right bubba, you make me proud.”
He smiles ear to ear.

My grandfather was never the man to show his feelings.
Hearing “I love you.”and seeing smiles from him was really rare.
But when he was with me, it was like second nature to him.
Why me ?
Why am I the only one that gives him joy?
Deep down I know he’s a sweet guy.
Why can’t no-one else see that ?

As he eats his Mcdonald's hash brown and sips his coffee.
He swallows in pain coughing with every other chew of his food.
That’s right, I forgot. He has throat cancer.
What I didn't understand at the time, was that
I don't have much time left with him.

.