after 86 years, it's time for waco

I'm helping my grandfather move tomorrow, from NYC where he's lived his whole life, to Waco, TX, where my parents live.

Two years ago, when he was 84, my parents suggested he come live with them & he wasn't into it. But now, 2 years later, he's doing it. (Not sure what changed.)

I've only seen him 3 times in my life: Once when I was 19 and had a few hours' layover in Newark, he came and met me at the airport. The second time in '02 when I met him for breakfast with my parents. And this past January, when I took the photo below. We sat there about an hour and he told me about my grandmother who died about 25 years ago.

I'm picking up a rental car in the morning & should be in NYC by 2. He said he has about 4 large garbage bags worth of belongings; mostly clothes probably. I wonder what he thinks about consumerism & the mad purchasing frenzy we Americans stay in. Why doesn't he have things? Is it a Depression mentality, or does he just simply not want anything?

I called him today to let him know we're all set with the rental car. He asked if it had seatbelts. Seatbelts! I said, "Oh yeah, it'll have awesome seatbelts." He said he wanted to make sure, since he's always hearing about seatbelts on the radio. For a split-second I thought he might be joking, but It's highly likely that all his experience with cars comes from the radio. He would never take a cab, and he doesn't really leave his apartment, much less Manhattan. When would he have been in a car in the past 86 years?

Aside from 5-minute phonecalls on birthdays and holidays, I haven't really talked to him much. He and my dad are both brief phone talkers. So I'm interested in what 13 hours in the car with him will be like. (Oh– my dad's meeting us halfway, in Knoxville, to drive him the rest of the way while I drive back to Boston.)

I borrowed a cooler from Brian at work and spent $36 at the store tonight getting water, fruit and snacks. I would have gotten beer, but they don't sell beer at the store! (Ok, maybe I wouldn't have gotten BEER.) I don't even know if he drinks beer. After my whole life of brief phonecalls just to check in & wish happy whatever, I really don't know much about the guy.

This time tomorrow night, we should be in Pennsylvania or some damn thing. Until then!
:)