#89

1918. 89 years ago, Charles Theo Fawson was born. I wasn't there to witness it, I have only been around for the past 32. There was a bash for my grandpa at my cousin Ken's house tonight. I have decided it only fitting that I say a few words about my grandfather.

I know I am lucky. I know it. Not every kid grows up a few streets away from his grandpa. Not every kid went to his house every Sunday(later it was my aunts home), or got to sit by him at church and have him draw pictures during Sacrament Meeting, while my grandma wrote down a seemingly endless list of names. Not every kid knows their grandpa.

I am lucky. It is fitting that he likes Clint Eastwood cause he kind of looks like him and even acts like him. Not in the hard way, but in the silent, confident way. My grandpa is probably the most handyman I know. He has every tool imaginable(usually 5 or more extra, just in case). He can fix anything, I really believe that, I guess if he couldn't it wouldn't be worth fixing anyhow. He is practical, logical, and just plain smart. He is quiet, but smiles easily, so when he does talk it is worth listening to, not just jibber-jabber. Of all the people I know he is the most steady, what I mean is that you know that not only you can count on him, but he will do the best job possible, oh yeah did I mention he is 89. He has taken the scout motto, be prepared to a new level. Whatever you need, no matter where you are, grandpa will have it, usually more than one. The lasting image I have of him is camera in hand, garden full of corn and tomatoes, quick on the smile, pocket knife on the ready, willing to do whatever is necessary to do the job right. One word: Steady.

Here are a few of my favorite anecdotes: Years ago we had this family party up in the mountains. This included the whole extended family so it was a big group. When it got time to make the campfire, grandpa had me and my cousin Matt go to his Isuzu and get his saw. We walked over, looked in the back and noticed two of them. Knowing my grandpa I said to Matt that we should take them both, cause whichever one we picked would be the wrong one. I felt smart for saying that. When we proudly showed him both, knowing we couldn't be wrong he said, "You got the wrong one." I was shocked, dumbfounded, bewildered, stunned; for we had got both saws, we couldn't have picked the wrong one. Matt and I looked at each other, explained we had got both of them. Waved them in his face to prove it, he remained certain in his judgement, we had got the wrong one. So all three of us trudged off to the Isuzu, Matt and I to prove we were right, Grandpa to get the right one. (I mean wouldn't the other two have served some purpose, why pack them if they were the "wrong" ones) He opened up the back dug under some newspapers, quite a few newspapers if I remember, and voila, to our astonishment there was the "right" one.

When Doug and Danelle were first married and lived in this apartment complex me, Matt, and Grandpa(notice the trio again) were riding in his old green truck. We pulled up at a light, stopped as these two cute girls walked in front. Grandpa noticed our ogling and honked the horn. He laughed, we did too.

When my dad was bishop there was this psychotic guy who took over Bob Madsen's(my grandpa's good friend) estate. The details fail me, I was young and not really privy to all the info anyhow. Anyhow my dad and his counselors, along with one of the cops in the ward were off "rescuing" Bob, saving is more like it, I think they were at the hospital. Meanwhile the psycho guy was trying to find my dad, he knew something was up. So he came over to our home. This is a very vivid memory I have. I remember my mom shooing us downstairs while he pounded on our screen door. I was scared(probably around 10 or so), we were all scared. I am not certain if my mom called my grandpa, he only lived a couple streets away, or if he just showed up on his own, but show up he did. Now the next part is probably somewhat legend as I did not witness it, I am sure I have romanticized about it years later. What I do know is that grandpa came over and basically told the guy to get lost, the guy vehemently argued back. Grandpa then showed him he had a gun and the guy quickly backpedaled and left. The way I envision it is amidst the arguing, Grandpa pulls out his piece and says, "Do we have a problem?" To which the other guy cowers away. It may not have quite played out like but it's probably not too far off either.

Let me finish by saying I have always admired my grandpa. He has always been there. I am lucky to have such a great person as a grandfather, and also to know him. He is the person to call when you are in a jam, or need advice. You know he will come through. As the saying goes, 'man is fallible', I would add except my grandpa. I don't really care if he has made mistakes, in my mind that is irrelevant. As I mentioned above he is the most steady person I know, and probably will ever know. Love ya grandpa. Happy Birthday