Today my Grandpa Oborn passed away. It's a sad day for those of us left behind, but I can't help but thinking of the joyous reunions taking place in Heaven right now.
My grandpa was the most service oriented person I know. His motto was "my wants are simple, my needs are simple". All he ever wanted for his birthday or any other gift-giving holiday was a hug and a kiss.
When I was around 8 years old my brother, Kurt, and I took a trip along with Grandpa & Grandma, Uncle Brent & Aunt Debbie and my cousin Kim down to Arizona to see our cousin Sean be blessed. We traveled through the night and Grandma fell asleep at one point in time with her head against the back of the seat and her legs extended out in front of her. The Oakridge Boys came on the radio singing "My Baby is American Made" and Grandpa sang right along with them. When it came to the words "from her silky long hair, to her sexy long legs", Grandpa slid his hand over Grandma's sleeping silhouette as he sang the words to the song. We thought that was so funny. Grandma wasn't very happy about it when she woke up, but we have giggled about that for years.
Grandpa & Grandma used to square dance quite often. I remember quite a few times being a little girl and dancing on his feet. I also remember him coming to my mutual activities a few times to call a square dance for a bunch of us teenagers.
Grandpa owned the O.P. Skaggs grocery store in Salt Lake City. He retired from that when I was 10, but I still remember "working" there. Grandpa would let me run the cash register and I felt like I was the coolest kid ever. Grandpa was never one to turn anybody away. There were many times as I would help him run the register that someone would come in and he would tell me "they just sign the back of the receipt". It wasn't until years later that I realized this was Grandpa's way of helping those who couldn't afford their groceries. He ran a welfare program all his own. I know he didn't receive too many of those funds that he had people sign for all those years, but I know he received much greater than money in blessings. There were many times the store was robbed, and Grandpa's comment was always the same, "They must have needed it more than I did." I also remember dusting the store shelves quite often with the black feather duster. I hated going back in the butcher shop area, and tried to avoid that as much as possible. Perhaps the best part, in my young eyes, was having free reign of the candy counter and the donuts. It's probably a good thing he closed the store when I was 10 or I may not have had any teeth left now.
Grandpa was always "adopting" widows and loners. I remember one man in particular that he took care of as he aged. His name was Alvie and I don't remember too many specific instances, but I do remember going in to visit and very often finding that Grandpa was at Alvie's for a bit helping him shower, eat, or do whatever needed done.
Grandma always makes a bit to-do of Christmas. I think Grandpa's favorite part of that was watching us all open up the gifts he and Grandma had given us. He never wanted anything for himself, but loved to give.
Grandpa has owned apartments in Tooele for years. When I was younger, I would go help him and Grandma clean them as tenants moved out. I remember one apartment in particular where the tenants had allowed their children to run around without diapers. It was so sick and smelly. We had to take up the carpet, the pad and part of the sub-floor. Whenever we finished work for the day, Grandpa would take us to Artic Circle for an ice cream cone. His was never big enough and he would always ask the person behind the counter to put just a little more on top.
Grandpa had big hands. To me, that meant strength. We joke about him having "sausage" fingers because they were so thick and they didn't appear to have any knuckle joints.
Grandpa couldn't stay away from the grocery world. After he retired he took to going to Smiths and collecting their damaged or closed dated goods. Many of them he delivered to the needy in his neighborhood, but he always had something in the garage fridge for any grandchild who stopped by. Much of it was too out-dated to actually consume, but there were quite a few times he sent us home with a gallon of milk or a carton of eggs and saved us a trip to the grocery store. Jarad will miss the orange juice, with plenty of pulp, that Grandpa always saved for him.
For Christmas this year, my parents gave a us a CD copy of some children's books Grandpa & Grandma had recorded themselves reading to us years ago. Grandpa & Grandma also gave my kids the recordable Hallmark books this year with their voices. I'm glad to have these things and will always cherish being able to hear Grandpa's unmistakeable voice whenever I want.
I am so grateful that my roots come from such a great man! I can only hope to pass on to my children and grandchildren the many great attributes Grandpa had! Love you Grandpa!
