You have two wonderful Grandpas. One Grandpa you get to see and the other Grandpa you get to think about and imagine. Let me tell you a little more about him so every time you lock eyes with his painting in the living room, you can chew on this:
Wild Bill, as I loved to call him, was a kind and gentle man who loved his wife and his family dearly. He was quiet and very thoughful and sometimes, yelling down Michigan Avenue out of a car window. When the mood struck him, he did it- especially in the later times. He loved his OH state games and chowed on popcorn. Next time your Papa eats popcorn, either of your uncles, or even cousin Jupiter, watch how they do it. That's the Phipps way, modeled through the generation by your Grandpa Phipps.
Your Grandpa Phipps spent his childhood in Kentucky flying through the muck, fields, sports fields as a water boy, and generally being a KY boy. He met your Grandama Phipps at a dance when she blew smoke in hs face to be pretty. Thank goodness she is/was pretty without the smoke, because years later she quit that nonesense. Anyhow... Grandpa Phipps went to school just up the lake from where you live now and thought a lot about godliness, holiness, and the general philosphy of life. He was always searching, Grandma Phipps has said. Searching to understand and searching to have explanations for the unexplained. He loved Jung and believed in the power of positive thinking and avoiding the words and attitude of "shoulds". he asked a lot of questions of himself and others.
He was also super silly. Giggling with Papa throughout childhood, cracking silly jokes with Aunt Betty and being a hambone every day. He made your Papa and Uncles Mark and David very happy children. If your Papa is even half the father that Grandpa Phipps was- your are one lucky gal!
We love him, miss him, and think about him whenever the cardinal sings of the painting wiggles in the breeze on the wall!
