On Wisconsin! On Wisconsin!

Several years ago, when Rich and I bought our first house, the owners invited us over to visit prior to the closing. Our real estate agents thought we were crazy to accept. They saw it as odd.....after all, to them the purchase of a house was only a business deal. Thankfully, we saw it as a loving gesture and an opportunity to ask questions and learn the nuances and character of our new home.

The family had lived in the house for over 30 years and had lovingly raised two boys there. They were sad to move and wanted to be sure that we knew just how much the home meant to them. Health problems and older age were forcing them to move into a smaller, ranch-style home.

It was clear that they had meticulously cared for the house built in 1921. The rooms and yard were immaculate. They simply wanted to sit and visit and we were all too happy to soak in the history and nostalgia of lives well-lived. We hoped to one day have a happy, loving family of our own. We were blessed to hear about the antics of little boys....and to learn of the laughter that had once upon on a time filled the rooms.

At the end of our visit, they took us for a walk into the backyard and around the garage. They highlighted flowerbeds and a tree they had planted a few years before. They expressed their desire for us to be blessed with as many years of happiness in this home as they had experienced.

As we rounded towards the car, the husband stopped and mentioned that they often looked after their elderly neighbor. If we didn't see it as too much trouble, could we please do the same? They couldn't imagine not seeing Fred on a daily basis. They expressed the joy they had in sharing a fence with him.....and it would bless their hearts if they knew we would also take care of him. He had no family and was in need of a connection to people. We answered with a solid "of course!" As we drove away, we laughed to ourselves.................we bought a house......and it came with a free old man!

We moved into that house in November of 2002 but it wasn't until July of the following year that we met Fred. (It gets VERY, VERY cold in western New York--July is around the time things finally thaw out!.)

Our lives were changed forever.

We learned that he was a widower who had lived in that house for 50 years......nearly 15 since his wife died. He had once worked at the university that my husband and I proudly call our alma mater. He bravely buried a granddaughter long before her time. He loves to eat his dessert first. He never goes anywhere without his bow-tie. He taught us the joy of listening to the ballgame on the radio. His home is filled with every piece of artwork his grand-daughters ever scribbled. He eats Junket and buys apple juice by the dozen.....not more, just in case he doesn't live long enough to drink it. While we lived in that house, he kept abreast of our family's goings and comings from his favorite chair by the window.....it just happened to provide a perfect view of our living room, dining room, sun porch, front porch, back porch and yard. Very little happened in the Salamone home without Fred's careful supervision and eagle eyes recording every detail.

Today, we count Fred as family. Every holiday is spent with him. Every special celebration includes him. Our children call him Grandpa Fred. We light up his life and he lifts our spirits. We've moved to a different house but still make a priority to visit him.

We are traveling for Easter but decided to take Fred out for breakfast this morning to celebrate. We went to a local diner where he ordered his standard oatmeal with brown sugar and raisins. He is very close to my 4 year old son Tim. I could hear them laughing and singing and whispering to each other over breakfast.

It wasn't until breakfast was over and we were on our way to my parents house in the afternoon that I understood what they were laughing about. Fred taught Tim a new song....On, Wisconsin.

Tim learned nearly all the words during breakfast. Later, he said to me: "Mom, I know we visit Grandpa Fred to help him but he helps me too. He teaches me fun songs and we laugh about lots of things. I love Grandpa Fred."

This warmed my heart. It is better to give than to receive.

It is a sacrifice to care for him but the rewards we have known for making him matter are beyond description. We are blessed for having known him for the past 6 years and pray for many more to come. My children have an initimate connection with this 80+ year old man and now have the first-hand knowledge of James 1:27: “Religion that our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…."

So in honor of Grandpa Fred, here's a quirky pre-Easter song......

On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin!
Plunge right through that line!
* Run the ball clear down the field,
* A touchdown sure this time. (U rah rah)
On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin!
Fight on for her fame
Fight! Fellows! - fight, fight, fight!
We'll win this game.
On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin!
Stand up, Badgers, sing!
"Forward" is our driving spirit,
Loyal voices ring.
On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin!
Raise her glowing flame
Stand, Fellows, let us now
Salute her name!