Harry Stories, Part 1

We got the call late last night: Harry Anderson, Cindy's grandfather, was in the hospital, exhibiting what her mother Kris had been able to decipher from the doctors as "pre-stroke-like symptoms." Apparently, after suffering from brochitis for the last two weeks, Kris came home to find Harry somewhat "lethargic," unable to move his left arm, with numbness and a tingling feeling in his hand. She packed him off to the hospital, and as far as I know, that's where he's at right now.

This, of course, is exactly why Kris moved to Florida last year, selling her home in Park Ridge to us. It is comforting to know she can be there to care for him, to see that he gets the medical attention he'll need now and in the years to come, even if she infuriates Cindy with her inability to accurately question the doctors and get thorough information about Harry's medical condition. I'm not sure I could do what Kris has done – essentially abandoning her own life to take care of her parents – but I admire her for it, and am grateful to know that's she's there.

I can't recall how much about Harry I've shared here on these pages. Sure, there's been the occasional Marine Corps reference, and I know Brother Cale knows him and has had the chance to spend some time with him, but that's about it. Harry is, for better or worse, about the only "father-in-law" figure I'm likely to have in my life. Polarizing figure that he may be for his immediate family and for his granddaughters, I love the guy and I've appreciated all the time he and I have had the opportunity to share together.

A few years back, I had the opportunity to edit portions of his autobiography, Once More, self-published but available at Amazon.com. It is, by and large, an engaging read, and over the next few weeks, when I'm not writing about meat or meat-related travels, I'll try and share some of the tasty bits from Harry's book.

But you really should buy your own copy...