Sweaters Knit from Memories

The heather gray yarn, suede elbow patches, and shawl collar

of my sweater always remind me of him.

Maybe because when I call him to mind the only thing I can envision

is a heathered, shawl collared sweater

before the pictures from the albums start pouring into my brain.

Whether or not I ever saw him wear one I do not know.

I know he did at some point.

I know because my dad thinks of him every time he wears his own shawl collared sweater.

It is an odd thing when you have memories of a person that you barely remember.

Today would have been my grandpa's 100th birthday.

He has been gone for almost a quarter of a decade

and yet this day still carries such a bittersweet tone for me.

Every February 2nd I am flooded by memories of him.

Memories to which I have no claim, 

but are constructions of stories and pictures shared by the true owners.

Each year I celebrate and hold onto those happy tales a little tighter 

as my own memories of him fade.

I am so grateful for the legacy he left us;

for the pride I share in knowing that he was the mind behind hundreds of patents;
for his example of a hard working, dedicated, loving husband and father;

for the memories of him we all share;

for his love for me I see each time I see his picture;

for this sweater that makes me feel like I am wearing his.