Richard Fish would have been 97 years young today! That’s my grandfather, my mother’s father. I have many fond memories of him from my childhood and teen years. Playing at the farm and going to North Loop popcorn days! When I would stay with my grandparents, we would go to church on Saturday nights in Ord, then to the bar after for popcorn and Shirley Temples! It was the 80s..
He was truly someone who I think everyone liked. He had a great sense of humor, and a great heart. Many might say in some ways he was a saint, because well, sometimes my grandmother was a bit of a handful.
After he passed back in July 1997, I remember all the stories I would hear about him. The mischievous ones I enjoy the most. In particular, that when he had started to ‘retire’ from the farm, to get some space from my grandmother he would go to town because he needed oil. This was code for going to my great uncle Bernie’s to share a few beers and laughs mid-day before getting back for dinner. However, he always got oil. The evidence was in his machine shed.
I remember when I was little, he and my grandmother would mistakenly call me Debbie. I did resemble my mother a lot as a child, we have the same eyes. My grandfather’s eyes actually, which I was always told were from his mother Ethel. My daughter Neva has those same eyes. Strangely enough, I see my mother all the time in my daughter’s eyes, more than myself. Leading up to her illness, it was almost like she was the one talking to me, not my daugher.
Recently, my mother has been mistaking my daughter Neva for me. While it is hard for her to get out full sentences ever, twice over the past three days she has said to me. “I just saw Natalie.” “Tell Natalie I see her.”
I have to correct her and tell her that I am Natalie and that is her granddaughter Neva. One would think that even if she wasn’t struggling right now, she would call her Natalie anyway.
Yesterday, we were lucky enough to have our friend and family photographer come by and capture some photos of all of us as family. There will be more to share, but for now here this one that has all of us. Those eyes, show through my daughter Neva on the end.
Happy birthday grandpa. We love you and miss you. Thank you for the beautful eyes.
Mom Catching On 
Oh Natalie I am so very saddened by the news for your mother. You two used to live across the street from me here in Kearney in Fairacres. I have kept in touch with your mom through Facebook. I am praying for her and your family. She is very lucky to have a daughter like you. She was always so very proud of you!! Give her a hug from me. This must be a very scary time for all of you. Stay strong and hold your memories close. I will be thinking of you all.
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Hi Natalie, Your Mom and I worked together at Woods Brothers. I was the weekend receptionist and she would come in for phone duty, Basically we would sit and talk and laugh till our sides hurt. LOL We are the same age and I think graduated the same year, only I was in North Platte. Evidently we both took baton lessons from some of the same people way back in the day. It just seems like we had kind of a parallel life in high school. Anyway, we had such good times there at work. I invited her to lunch at my home a few times and we had the best time. I got out my pink depression glass and made it so special every time. I am so glad I had a chance to be her friend. I kind of lost touch with my work friends when I fell and suffered a traumatic brain injury, but never forgot Deb. We talked a few times on FB and how I wish I had reached out sooner, but I had no idea what had happened. Please give her a big hug for me and tell her I will always remember our funny talks and our special lunches together. Hugs and prayers for your whole family!!!!!!
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