Thursday, October 17, 2019
Grandpa Hecker's was always a place of love and welcoming. He always had a hug and smile to make you feel loved. Some of my fondest memories were of grandpa on the farm where there always seemed to be a white German shepherd dog named king.
He and grandma would take us out to feed the chickens and check the eggs. Then let us dig our little fingers deep into the corn feed, bring up the biggest handful possible then feel the nuzzle nuzzle of the horses lips as they nibbled from our hands.
My sister Melissa and I would run around the paddock while grandpa and my dad Gary would talk. Uncle pat would shoot tiny cans from the fence post with his BB gun. Grandpa would lift us up on to the tractor seat and take us for a spin around the barn while my mom Barbara and grandma would groom the horses this smell of alfalfa heavy in the air.
They had a watering trough full of small goldfish and we would tickle the fish and watch them popped to the surface for treats. At night my mother Barb and dad Gary would play cards or marbles with grandma and grandpa and Uncle Pat until late. We would nibble on angel food cake with coconut frosting or peanut butter cookies my grandma had made. We would pet the many kitties that lived with them that they love so much.
Grandma would have the heater on high while grandpa told a tall tale to my dad. We would drift off to sleep till the end of our visit. The house was always full of love and life and I will miss them always.
My heart goes out to Uncle Pat and the emptiness he must feel. He has spent most of his life with his dad helping him, being with him for comfort, and caring for him. What a blessing you were to your family. They knew they were loved. Lucky them.
-Ang
