As many of you know, my grandpa passed away last month. It was devastating for me, in fact it broke me. This man was such an important person in my life. He was the one who sparked the love of baseball/softball in all of us. He was one of the most incredible humans I have ever known. I know, I know you’re sitting there thinking that everyone says that about their loved ones, but allow me to fill you in on who this man was.
A Navy Veteran, who fought in the Korean War. My grandpa served and loved his country. He shared many stories with us over the years. Although my favorite was after I got my first tattoo, he told me I need to be sure I put thought into them or I’ll end up like him with two propellers tattooed on his backside that he got while serving. We laughed together and I promised I would put thought and meaning into every tattoo I got.
Way back in the day when my dad was a kid, they lived on a ranch breeding Quarter Horses and growing alfalfa. My grandpa raised my dad and my aunt to show horses and sheep. Fun fact about my pops, he was a Grand Champion in Trail Riding. Now, if you know me at all you know how much I love horses. I firmly believe my love for them stems from my grandpa even though the ranch was long gone before I was born. While raising his family he also took his love of baseball to the next level and founded the Treasure Valley Stars Baseball team. That team is still thriving to this day.
My grandpa was the Plant Manager of Murakami Produce my entire life. For those of you who have no idea what that is, my town is known for onions and Murakami was pretty much the biggest name in onions and honestly still is. I grew up in those packing sheds, running around, learning about how everything worked, and usually sitting in my grandpa’s office pounding red vines like nobody’s business. He hired high school students and made sure they were keeping up in school, checking in on their grades and attendance.
Something he did that has always inspired me was that he would anonymously sponsor athletes who couldn’t afford to play, or just needed help. He was blessed and wanted to bless others. He had such a generous heart, something I strive to be like. Even when my family moved to the Portland area, he still sponsored student athletes out here. The impact that he had on so many lives and he wanted no recognition for… can you imagine? He was an incredible man.
My entire life, my grandpa was always there for my sporting events and whatever else I was involved in at the time. He supported me in every single thing I did, but he was always exceptionally proud of my accomplishments through softball. From tee-ball to college ball, he was there cheering me on. I was a first team athlete three years in a row, played in the World Series tournament twice, and went on to the collegiate level. When I was offered a scholarship to play in college, I swear he was beaming even more than my dad.
My son is named after him, Grayson Paul. If you haven’t picked up on the impact he’s had on me, I’d hope you do now. He loved my little boy and looked forward to every visit. He even bought a John Deere Tractor toy for him to play with whenever he was there. Keeping us nice and country, even though we live so close to the metro area. I can still here his voice when he’d open his door to us… see his smile and hear that laugh.
When I went through my divorce, he was there for me and called me all the time. He was the only family I had who knew exactly what I was going through. Every time he talked to my dad he asked about me and told my dad he had no idea the pain I was going through. Every time he called me he asked how I was, I always said I was fine. He’d respond with his southern drawl “Now Erika, don’t you lie to your grandpa.” So we’d talk and I always told him I would be okay, that I always am.
The day that he passed, my entire family made voice recordings and sent them to my dad for him. It took me 13 tries to get through the damn thing without sounding like a complete wreck, I wish I was exaggerating but I’m not. I was out to lunch with Whitney when my dad messaged me saying grandpa needed to hear from me again, he needed to know I was going to be okay. I walked out of the restaurant and into an alley in Downtown Gresham, I told him how much I loved him and I promised G and I would be okay. I assured him it was okay and he didn’t have to worry about me. Tears were pouring down my face while I made this message.
Not five minutes after hearing my message, he passed. My dad called me on his way home the next day and told me that I was the one who gave grandpa permission to go. He was always so worried about me and everything I’ve been going through, he didn’t want to leave without knowing I would be okay. My grandpa was a hard ass, where do you think I get it from? But, he had one of the biggest hearts I’ve ever known and I strive to be even half as amazing as he was.
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