A Bizarre Request.

Okay, this is a bizarre request, but here it goes anyway.

My grandpa better known as "Bump" to his grandchildren, is one of the greatest grandpa's I've ever known! In addtion to his love of his children, grandchildren & great grandchildren, he's been dedicated to gardening for as long as I can remember. On July 3rd, he's going to be approximately 88 or so (please don't quote me!). Way back when, he would transplant trees from forests to neighborhoods just because he loves nature & gardening SOOOO much. When I was about 8 years old, he transplanted several seedling trees which stand to this day on the property he & my grandma called home until 2 years ago. I wondered if I'd ever get this gardening "itch" as most of my family did and finally, last summer, after finding DGs, I did!!!

He is one of God's angels & you'd have to meet him to believe me. But, this man, who taught me more than my father ever did/could (though I love him, too), is truly my hero :)

I was thinking that it would just overwhelm him with joy if other gardening folks were to send him a bit of thanks for spreading his green thumb & love of gardening/nature. Even if it were just a postcard. Being from an older generation, he doesn't have a computer ~ he just uses old fashioned snail mail. About two years he lost his driving priviledges since he tends to absorb himself in the environment in which he's driving rather than the boring pavement & motorists that surround him.

Anyway, my "bizarre request" was to maybe send him a birthday card thanking him for all that he has given to God's earth. He his such a wonderful man & I know you'd love him, too, if only I could get him to use a computer to write to you!!!

If you think you might like to brighten his day as he has brightened my life and others too, you could send him a card at the following address:

Mr. V.L. Thompson
40 Community Lane
Avon Lake, OH 44012

He & my grandmother have lost most of their friends by their longevity of life. I just thought this may make his day & let this wonderful man know how much he is loved!

Morph, i dont think its bizarre at all!!!
Some of my most vivid childhood memories are of my g'ma and g'pas. He had the greenest thumb i ever saw and grew the most fantastic hollyhocks
Thanks for posting this far enough in advance, im rather scatterbrained and it may take a while for me to get the card.
jen

Sounds like a wonderful idea to me. Count me in.

morph I will too.........do you think he would like a seedling of a Live Oak as well??

"eyes"

Oh yes, he certainly would, "eyes" !!!! Thanks MsJen & Naturegal :) He will be so pleasantly surprised! The seedling is more than enough. He plants much more slowly now, but I thought the cards would certainly be fun & easy to open. You're the bestest!

I'll put him on my PO trip for this week. Happy birthday to a grand gentleman!!

"eyes"

Awwww, Morph! That is so sweet. He sounds like a wonderful man. I would be happy to do this too. :)
Michele

Count me in. (Can he handle a weirdo like me? I'll try to be tame.)

Morph, I've got him down. I'll send him a photo of my poppies...and a card!

Just entered it in my calendar to mail on June 29....:-)

I will send a card, too. Grandparents can be a real gift!! Gardening is something that should to be passed to children, and isn't often enough. He is to be commended. As are you, Morph, for thinking of this.
Penny

What a wonderful idea. Count me in.

Everyone, thank you so much for your generosity! I wasn't sure what y'all would think of this request :) He will be SOOOOOO surprised and even more so when I explain to him how and what Dave's Garden is. I'm sure he will be absolutely stunned about the whole concept, too. So many times I've tried to convince both he & my grandmother how much fun the computer can be. They are happy without it and so I only mention every year or two rather than every visit now. Don't want to be too much of a pest!

Getting old, I think, must be hard and so challenging in many ways. He certainly doesn't dwell on it, though. He just keeps planting and watching the birds :)

Thanks, again, to y'all! I'm at your beck and call whenever you may need me :)

This message was edited Tuesday, Jun 18th 7:21 PM

I'm in!

Cool, Morph! I miss my grandparents so much, and it'd tickle me to adopt yours for his birthday. :)

I'm in! Would he enjoy a package of some kind of seeds in the card? If so, what would he like?

I'm in too - hope the mail reaches him in time!


Pam

This message was edited Tuesday, Jun 18th 10:43 PM

Count me in!!
What a great idea!!
RUth

Thanks, Joan! I think a card made by kids or grandkids would thrill him ~ he's just that kind of man! He's still digging up old flowers from the home in which he lived for about 50 years! He & my grandma had to move to a retirement community and their house was considered a "tear down". So, he asked the buyer if he would mind if he kept digging up what he's been taking care of for so many years.

So, while the buyer tears down an old home & builds a new house, my "Bump" is digging away trying to save as many of his treasures as he can. We are just happy that the trees that he planted for us over 30 years ago will stay. The one instruction to the builder of the new house was to avoid any damage to the trees :)

Thanks Pam & Ruth & GW & JML! He is going to be amazed at how far some of his greetings have traveled! I'm starting to get really excited especially since my grandmother was clear about "no gifts". I think she meant tangible, boxed gifts; not gifts of the heart :)

Thank you everyone!!!

Sweet, dear, "Bump"..........I have a very vivid mental image of him now!! God Bless you for doing this for him, and sharing his wonderful story with us!! Hugs!!!!!!!!

"eyes"

Oh, "Eyes", thank you! Your note just triggerd an idea for me. I am going to print this thread and wrap it for him for his birthday. Then, this will help him to better understand how so many birthday greetings found him this year :) And, he will see first hand how wonderful the people are here :) Thanks!!!

Well, in that case...
HOWDY BUMP! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY!
BEST OF ALL TO YOU AND YOURS!
Horseshoe.

Happy Birthday Bump!

My kids call their grandpa Bompy.

Morph, I will certainly send a card to your Grandpa. My grandpa Pete was so special too, taught Bible school until he was 90. Grandparents are the most inportant influence on a childs life and it sounds like your Bumps is the best.
How lucky you are!
Jacquie

Happy Birthday to you Bump from Mississippi. I will also send card by snail mail.
Ruth

I'm in!!!!!Will get a card in the
mail this week.

Mr. Thompson,

Thank you for instilling your love of gardening in your granddaughter. If you hadn't we might never have crossed paths. Thank you!

:) Kimberley

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !! I hope it is very special...you have a wonderful granddaughter here, and we treasure her very much....as they say..."The acorn don't fall far from the tree"! So you must be a very special "tree" that she fell from! Many Happy Returns from Arizone (but am in TN right now) Jo

Oh, Jo ~ I'm "blushing"...

Joan, "Bompy" is so close to "Bump"! Bump was shortened from "Bumpa", but I don't remember how "Bumpa" got started.

Thanks, Jacquie :) Teaching until 90?! That is absolutely amazing!

Kimberley, you're so right! I hadn't thought of it that way, but our paths may have never crossed had it not been for Bump. And, now I know your name, too :)

Thank you, thank you, thank you to EVERYONE! I told my sister what we've been up to and she thinks that Bump will just love receiving these birthday greetings. And, he'll be puzzled, too, I suspect. That is, until I give him a hard copy printout of this thread and explain.

My heart is dancing ~ cheers!

What a wonderful idea. I'd be happy to send a card and wish a Happy Birthday to Bump here too.

Thank you, Amari :)

Well, they just don't make men like that any more! From a grandma who is call Poppop by one grandchild, Happy Birthday, Bump, and many many more! And congratulations to Mrs. Bump for hanging onto her man so long. Two special people, you must be.

Hey, Morph I only read this now.
I'm a long way away, but I'll post a card Monday, So he'll get one from southern Chile....It may get there a little late...but it'll surprise him !

cristina

Cristina, that will really WOW him! Thanks MUCH !!!

Aimee, thank you, too :) I'm sure you've such a wonderful family from reading your posts. I'll be sure to tell Bump about you!

A Great Idea Morph!
On its way!

Happy Birthday Bump!

Happy Birthday BUMP.~~~~~ Happy Birthday to you~~~~ A card is coming from North Carolina.

Totally awesome!!! I've read through this thread and counted over twenty people who are going to send a card to Bump. I've said this before and can't think of what else to say except, Thank You! I wish I could be at the Round Up to say it in person and give you a big hug from Bump just like he gives. Shuttlebunny & Lizh, thanks :) This site & its family is the bestest!!!

Hi Morph,
I will be sending a card to your Bump also, we just got the neatest cards a work, I've been dying to buy one just because they're so neat!!! Now I have the perfect opportunity, they are 3-d and have hanging baskets and planters and all kinds of neat stuff I'm sure he'll love it!!!
This is the best idea, I'm sure you are just as wonderful as your Bump!!!!
Becky

Becky, thank you so much! I noticed you're from Perrysburg which is where my DH grew up! His parents still live there, too :) Will you be joining us in the Fall for the HOORU, Heart of Ohio Round Up? Would love to meet you... Thanks much for sending such a neat card! Kind regards, Morph :)

What a wonderful idea-Happy Birthday Bump; my grams taught me the value of planting; she had us collecting those itchy hollyhock flower seeds. She had beautiful flowers and we played with the spent blooms-dancing ladies. Will be sending a card.