A good man

So your Dzia-Dzia [grandfather], he left behind a girlfriend in Peru when he went to war. And your Busia [grandmother], she had puppy love for this older guy in Harvey named Casey who was also enlisting in the war. Casey and your Dzia-Dzia became the best of friends over in Europe and then your Dzia-Dzia got a Dear John letter from his girlfriend. You probably don't even know what a Dear John letter is, do you?

Not really.

Those were very well known in World War Two times. Dear John, I've met someone else while you were away. You get the picture. So Dzia-Dzia was crushed and his best friend told him about this sweet, fun girl that he knew from back home. He suggested he write her letters. And so your Dzia-Dzia started writing letters to Busia and they fell in love.

So they'd never met face to face?

Nope. As soon as the war was over he found a job in Harvey, crashing on couches so he could be by my sister. He would often stay with me and my husband. Diane was one so sometimes we would use them as babysitters so we could get away and dance. I would sometimes catch Dzia-Dzia at the corner store buying her twinkies as surprise treats. You're Busia was addicted to sweets.

It's genetic.

And when your Busia got sick, your Dzia-Dzia never complained once about the lifting, the complete burden of housework and cooking, the complete change of lifestyle and role. And my mother, our mother, would get down on her knees and literally kiss his hands over and over. He was so good to her. Never lower your standards for a good man.