My Grandpa Medina

I realized recently that I never wrote about my Grandpa Medina.  He died in August 2015.  His health had really been deteriorating, but of course he was still always trying to do as much as possible despite his bad health.  Always moving, always working as much as he could.  He had actually died while he was walking outside.  It happened suddenly.  But of course he was outside trying to be busy.  He was a hardworking, busy man.   I remember my Grandpa Medina with a happy smile on his face often.  He smiled, he sang, he danced, he cracked jokes.  He was full of personality.  I actually think a lot of my personality comes from the him and the Medina side of my family.  That side is full of smiling, laughing, joking, and cracking people up.  haha  When I was a child he would often take his grand kids fishing.  As an adult I have reflected on how it would have been so much easier for him to go by himself.  Especially because I remember snagging and tangling lines.  And more than likely being a pain.  But he would just walk over and fix it and he did it very patiently.  Every fish I have ever caught was fishing with my Grandpa Medina.  He and my grandma loved to gamble and go to Bingo.  I remember going to Bingo with them a few times.  It was fun hanging out with them and tagging along.  They would buy me nachos or treats.  Driving in his car he was always listening to Spanish music and singing along.  He loved to sing along to the radio.  He actually had a great voice.  At this grandpa's house we would often play cards.  He and my grandma were always up for a game of Go Fish, Rummy, or 21.  They would often take the time to play cards with us grand kids.  I have many memories being at their house playing cards, eating good and lots of food, and laughing.  Always laughing. :)
He was a mechanic and always had broken down cars on his land.  Ones he was going to fix "one day."  One time I found an old hammer and for some dumb reason broke one of the car's windows.  I was soo scared to tell him what I had done.  But he was so kind about it and said thank you for telling him and to be more careful.  He was a nice, fun guy.  He is greatly missed.  I miss seeing his happy smile.  My last born daughter is named after his mom.  His mom's name is Rebecca and although we spelled it the biblical way, we named her Skye Rebekah after her.  I cant wait to meet her one day.  I also can't wait to see her son, my Grandpa Lawrence Lee Medina one day again too.  I am sure it will be a reunion of smiles and laughs.  <3
I was not able to see him as much after getting married and having kids and living so far away.  And my parent's being divorced definitely made it more difficult to get to see him as much too.  But growing up, I have many great memories of him to hold on to.  And I am so happy he was able to meet my children.  All of them except for Skye who was born after he died.  But I am sure he gave her a great, big hug before she came down to Earth. :-)