I pass by an old, black and white picture taken by a photo booth every day. It hangs by a folded piece of tape on the wall right next to the light switch in my bedroom. It’s a simple four-stripped photo of my grandfather and I that was taken in a Las Vegas mall about 10 years ago. Every time I stare at this photo, it takes me back to that hot summer day. His silver, shiny hair was always slicked back and his face was always nice and smooth. He always smelled like the cologne I got him one year for Christmas. I see the picture and it’s like I can smell his cologne and hear his voice and his laugh. He had such a good laugh. This photo is so dear to my heart and I will keep it for the rest of my life. It reminds me of his huge arms squeezing me until I couldn’t breathe. It reminds me of how hard he could make me laugh about anything. It simply reminds me of him and I would do anything to get him back.
History of the Photo Booth
Did you know that an ordinary mail artist created photo booths in 1888? He was an excellent photographer who took pictures of the beauty of life. He didn’t enjoy the beauty of world until he was diagnosed with AIDs, which eventually killed him. Before his death, he would admire people’s happiness, which is why he created the photo booth. Everyone taking a picture in a photo booth is always happy. It’s actually a cute story. It’s a reminder to always enjoy the little things and that’s exactly what my grandfather did.
History of my Family
My grandfather grew up in a small town in Mexico and did not live a luxurious life. Lucky for him, he met my grandmother in that same town when they were 19 and got married. Together they had 8 children and lived a beautiful life full of love. My grandfather never wanted to retire. He used to always say, “I’ll rest when I’m dead. I need to live my life to the fullest.” He sold buttons all of his life. He would sell them to art supply stores and eventually he opened up his own factory. He traveled all over Mexico for months at a time. My mom told me a story about one of his trips. She gets a little teary-eyed every time she talks about her dad. She said that she used to love to go with him because it was like a mini vacation. They would stay in the nicest hotel and go swimming in the pool. These trips are one of my mom’s best memories with her dad because it was just them two.
Everyone loved my grandfather. He was a man who was admired by most and rarely had enemies. He was such a role model to his children and his grandchildren. He enjoyed having a good time and liked to celebrate life and the people in it. Everyone looked up to him because he was not like anyone else. He was his own person who had his own beliefs and own opinions. I admire the fact that he didn’t let anyone get in the way of what he wanted. My grandfather would learn from his mistakes and learn from other people’s mistakes to make himself a better person. He was a great, hard worker and an excellent father and grandfather. He went above and beyond for his family. I’ve always looked up to him and I always will.
My grandfather has seen me at my best and at my worst but that’s what they are there for. They are there to comfort you when you’re down and love you no matter what you say or do. I’m lucky enough to have actually spent some time with my wonderful grandfather because he had such a huge heart. I don’t know what I’d do without him by my side; there or in spirit. He has shaped me into the woman I am today. I’ve been lucky throughout my life because I have always had two loving parents and four loving grandparents who would do anything for me. He was the person that would be on the first flight to Los Angeles if he heard I was sick. My grandfather has taught me how drive a car and taught me how to play the guitar. I wish that I visited more when I could of. He lived so far away but we still had such a strong bond. He was one of the people that I admired so much.
The Memories that Will Last A Lifetime
One of the best memories I have of us is of him letting me sit on his lap while we drove around in a golf cart. I was six when he finally let me in the driver’s seat and I would feel so cool steering the wheel while my feet would dangle and hit his shins while he operated the gas and break. He wouldn’t mind though. He loved seeing me happy. We would drive around the country club by his house and would people watch and make fun of everyone in their goofy golf outfits. He would always bring a loaf of bread and drive us down to the pond, which was always filled of ducks. I remember him making me laugh and saying, “Te amo con todo mi corazon” which means I love you with all my heart in Spanish. My yearly trips to Mexico were always so much fun because I got to spend every waking moment with him by my side. I remember him always taking the grandkids from my aunts and uncles so he could take us to buy new toys and go get us ice cream. He used to say, “if I always knew how much joy it was to have grandchildren, I would have had them first.” He loved us and we loved him so much. I wish everyone knew my grandfather because this man was so loving and had such a kind soul.
My grandfather loved to golf so every year I would send him pictures of myself golfing with my dad even though I had no idea how to golf. Over the years I stopped doing it but I know that it meant a lot to him just knowing that I thought about him from time to time. Surprisingly, he was always on my mind. When I did something wrong, he would be the first I’d call. We would send each other letters all the time just to see how we were doing. Pictures and letters were one of the ways we would always communicate.
Saying Goodbye
The night he died. I remember sitting next to him on his bed with the tubes in his nose and the machines being so loud that it was making everyone impatient. He told me that he promised that we would go feed the ducks tomorrow and he would let me drive the golf cart all by myself. He promised that we would go explore and walk the dog and find deer climbing the hills on the mountain. I laughed because I wasn’t a little girl anymore but I was more excited than I have ever been because I knew that it would be one of the last times with him. I never got to go feed the ducks with my grandfather because he passed away that night around 3 in the morning. My aunts and uncles were crowding around the bed with tears slowing dripping down their cheeks. I didn’t cry. I just stood there, thinking. I was in shock and I really didn’t know how to react. I was sad because he left us but I was happy because he wasn’t sick anymore. Was it selfish of us to still want him here with the family? He was gone and there was nothing we could do about it. I know that he watches over us. He was a great person and I will cherish his gift for the rest of my life; the photo booth picture and a priceless gift of all our memories together. I smile every time I walk by and sometimes cry a little. It always will remind me of our Vegas trip that one summer. That trip was a great beginning to our friendship. I do not just see him as family but I see him as one of my best friends and I always will even though he’s not here anymore. He will always be my hero and I will always love him.
Did you know that an ordinary mail artist created photo booths in 1888? He was an excellent photographer who took pictures of the beauty of life. He didn’t enjoy the beauty of world until he was diagnosed with AIDs, which eventually killed him. Before his death, he would admire people’s happiness, which is why he created the photo booth. Everyone taking a picture in a photo booth is always happy. It’s actually a cute story. It’s a reminder to always enjoy the little things and that’s exactly what my grandfather did.
History of my Family
My grandfather grew up in a small town in Mexico and did not live a luxurious life. Lucky for him, he met my grandmother in that same town when they were 19 and got married. Together they had 8 children and lived a beautiful life full of love. My grandfather never wanted to retire. He used to always say, “I’ll rest when I’m dead. I need to live my life to the fullest.” He sold buttons all of his life. He would sell them to art supply stores and eventually he opened up his own factory. He traveled all over Mexico for months at a time. My mom told me a story about one of his trips. She gets a little teary-eyed every time she talks about her dad. She said that she used to love to go with him because it was like a mini vacation. They would stay in the nicest hotel and go swimming in the pool. These trips are one of my mom’s best memories with her dad because it was just them two.
Everyone loved my grandfather. He was a man who was admired by most and rarely had enemies. He was such a role model to his children and his grandchildren. He enjoyed having a good time and liked to celebrate life and the people in it. Everyone looked up to him because he was not like anyone else. He was his own person who had his own beliefs and own opinions. I admire the fact that he didn’t let anyone get in the way of what he wanted. My grandfather would learn from his mistakes and learn from other people’s mistakes to make himself a better person. He was a great, hard worker and an excellent father and grandfather. He went above and beyond for his family. I’ve always looked up to him and I always will.
My grandfather has seen me at my best and at my worst but that’s what they are there for. They are there to comfort you when you’re down and love you no matter what you say or do. I’m lucky enough to have actually spent some time with my wonderful grandfather because he had such a huge heart. I don’t know what I’d do without him by my side; there or in spirit. He has shaped me into the woman I am today. I’ve been lucky throughout my life because I have always had two loving parents and four loving grandparents who would do anything for me. He was the person that would be on the first flight to Los Angeles if he heard I was sick. My grandfather has taught me how drive a car and taught me how to play the guitar. I wish that I visited more when I could of. He lived so far away but we still had such a strong bond. He was one of the people that I admired so much.
The Memories that Will Last A Lifetime
One of the best memories I have of us is of him letting me sit on his lap while we drove around in a golf cart. I was six when he finally let me in the driver’s seat and I would feel so cool steering the wheel while my feet would dangle and hit his shins while he operated the gas and break. He wouldn’t mind though. He loved seeing me happy. We would drive around the country club by his house and would people watch and make fun of everyone in their goofy golf outfits. He would always bring a loaf of bread and drive us down to the pond, which was always filled of ducks. I remember him making me laugh and saying, “Te amo con todo mi corazon” which means I love you with all my heart in Spanish. My yearly trips to Mexico were always so much fun because I got to spend every waking moment with him by my side. I remember him always taking the grandkids from my aunts and uncles so he could take us to buy new toys and go get us ice cream. He used to say, “if I always knew how much joy it was to have grandchildren, I would have had them first.” He loved us and we loved him so much. I wish everyone knew my grandfather because this man was so loving and had such a kind soul.
My grandfather loved to golf so every year I would send him pictures of myself golfing with my dad even though I had no idea how to golf. Over the years I stopped doing it but I know that it meant a lot to him just knowing that I thought about him from time to time. Surprisingly, he was always on my mind. When I did something wrong, he would be the first I’d call. We would send each other letters all the time just to see how we were doing. Pictures and letters were one of the ways we would always communicate.
Saying Goodbye
The night he died. I remember sitting next to him on his bed with the tubes in his nose and the machines being so loud that it was making everyone impatient. He told me that he promised that we would go feed the ducks tomorrow and he would let me drive the golf cart all by myself. He promised that we would go explore and walk the dog and find deer climbing the hills on the mountain. I laughed because I wasn’t a little girl anymore but I was more excited than I have ever been because I knew that it would be one of the last times with him. I never got to go feed the ducks with my grandfather because he passed away that night around 3 in the morning. My aunts and uncles were crowding around the bed with tears slowing dripping down their cheeks. I didn’t cry. I just stood there, thinking. I was in shock and I really didn’t know how to react. I was sad because he left us but I was happy because he wasn’t sick anymore. Was it selfish of us to still want him here with the family? He was gone and there was nothing we could do about it. I know that he watches over us. He was a great person and I will cherish his gift for the rest of my life; the photo booth picture and a priceless gift of all our memories together. I smile every time I walk by and sometimes cry a little. It always will remind me of our Vegas trip that one summer. That trip was a great beginning to our friendship. I do not just see him as family but I see him as one of my best friends and I always will even though he’s not here anymore. He will always be my hero and I will always love him.