In Memory: Grandpa Woodstock
I found the story about Grandpa Woodstock on Trish LeaseWay’s Facebook thread. Her words and the pictures she took transported me back in time instantly to the first time I met him.
“Grandpa Woodstock is coming! Grandpa Woodstock is coming!” His very own herald announced his arrival with Lady Estar and Hector, their fluffy little white dog, as they made their way to the food pantry for Wednesday afternoon grocery shopping.
He parked his famous colorful cart at the pantry entrance under the shade of a tree so Hector wouldn’t get overheated. While Grandpa Woodstock and Lady Estar came in to shop, Hector patiently waited in the cart.
In Woodstock, Grandpa Woodstock was the most colorful of the colorful and the most charming of the charming with his props and smile. Residents loved him. Travelers from all over the globe adored him. Women, especially, responded to him. How could anyone resist?
While waiting in the hallway to shop, Grandpa Woodstock entertained everyone: “My, how beautiful you look today!” he gushed enthusiastically as he sounded the horn attached to his walking stick “Toot toot”.
I was no exception to the rule. His words melted my heart. Because, in reality, working in the pantry was tough with the overcrowded hallway, overstuffed food shelves, and overtired shoppers. When Grandpa Woodstock and Lady Estar shopped in the pantry, none of it mattered.
He made us feel special when he showed off his clothes, his cart, his horn, his peace sign, and posed for photos.
What a pair! Grandpa and Lady Estar looked alike. My eyes told me they were a pair of matching perfect size 8’s. Their long flowing silver hairstyles and their lovely matching beards only emphasized their striking appearance as they stood in the pantry selecting veggies for the evening meal they planned to serve to their closest homeless friends.
He and Lady Estar dressed beautifully in flowing silk skirts and kimonos. They favored red floral print jackets, dresses. Their toenails were painted and they wore matching Teva sandals. As they chatted, I felt they were already dressed for their evening event.
When they left the pantry, Grandpa Woodstock pushed their cart out to the village green so admirers could take pictures, buy post cards, and donate money in Grandpa’s tip jar.
None of Woodstock’s rich and famous got so many requests for autographs, photographs. They couldn’t compete with Grandpa Woodstock’s show off tricks. Maybe some of these famous people should have gotten a horn.
This was street theater at its finest. He drew us in, made us feel special for a moment. Life was beautiful!
“My how lovely you look today!” he announced to the crowd, waving a peace sign in the air. Grandpa Woodstock convinced us all with his smile and the toot of his horn that we were accepted by the community, that we were okay, and that our pantry was important.
As I remember this special moment in time, I’m reminded that neither Grandfather Woodstock, nor the Woodstock he lived in, exist anymore. Grandpa was the last of the line. Everyone else was gone – one way or another.
Time and gentrification is moving us forward – with no exceptions.
Acne, acupuncturist, allergic reactions, Allergies, and emotional health, anger, antibiotics, anxiety, anxiety attacks, Arthritis, asthma, balance, breathe consciously, breathe deeply, breathe slowly, broken bones, calluses, cancer, cats, chakras, circulatory diseases, Cold Pain, colon cleanse, Constant pain, constipation, COPD, corns, Deep Pain, dermatologist, dermatologists, diabetes, diabetic, diet, digestion, digestive system, dogs, Eczema, essential oils, exercise, eye infections, fatigue, foot reflexology, foot reflexology blog, foot sprains, fresh foods, Gratitude, guided healing meditation, guided meditation, healing, healing space, health care choices, healthy, heart diseases, heartburn, heredity, homeostasis, Hot pain, Hunger is not a Disease, hydration, joints, locally grown foods, Losing weight, Marge d'Urso, meditation, meditation offers homeostasis, mental, migraine headaches, natural detox, Nephritis, obesity, otolaryngologist, overcoming fear, physical, Pins and Needles, podiatrist, preventing disease, prostate, protection, Reflexology Chart, Reflexology for the Spirit, reflexologyforthespirit:com; Thurman Greco, Reflexologyforthespiritblog, Reiki therapy, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatologist, risk factors, Screaming Pain, Searing pain, sinusitis, sinusitis, skin cleansing, sleep apnea, sleep encouraging techniques', slow down aging, Smudge your space, spiritual, Spiritual Aspects of Disease, spiritual health, spleen, stomach, stress, stroke, Thank you, Thurman Greco, Thurman Greco, trauma, urinary system, Urinary Tract Infections, Urinary tract issues, wellness, Woodstock
