By now, most of you have probably read about the grandfather – the PaPaw – who had invited his six grandchildren to dinner, making 12 burgers, only to have just one of the kids show up for the meal.

Shared on Twitter, a photo taken by the one granddaughter who did make it was retweeted thousands and thousands of times. The older gentleman’s sad expression touched a chord in many.

Including me. But there was more to it for me than the sweet older gent’s forlorn face: It brought up a lifetime of longing.

I never had a grandpa in my life because both of my grandfathers – Matthias Prusi and Englebert Schroderus – died before I was born.

Don’t get me wrong. My life has been blessed with many wonderful men. My dad was the best; my brothers are awesome; and many, many uncles brought laughter and fun, and some good advice, to me.

But I have always envied others when they told stories about the time they spent with their granddads.

Fishing with gramps or going to a ballgame with him or just spending time at his house: All those things sounded fabulous.

My grandmothers were sweet. My dad’s mom, who we called Mummu, spoke mainly Finnish. My memories of her are lovely but she died when I was 10 so there aren’t as many of them as I would like to have.

My mom’s mom, Grandma Jenn, was a quirky character who sat by the window in a rocking chair in her home on Division Street in Ishpeming. The lace curtain in that window would flick when she saw us pull up for a visit. Grandma Jenn was the only of my grandparents to be born in the USA. What I recall most strongly about her is she insisted I should be a nurse, even when I told her I wasn’t good around blood. She would wave her hand and say “still”

Grandma Jenn passed away when I was 13.

But at least I have some memories of my grandmothers. My grandfathers were only photographs and some random stories here and there. It still gives me a pang when I think about what it might have been like to know them, even though I am old myself now.

So to any of you still fortunate enough to have grandfathers in your life, please don’t squander the opportunity to spend time with them when you can. Listen to the stories even if you have heard them many times. Even better, record them telling their stories. Ask questions. Take photos.

Show up if they invite you to dinner or at least let them know if you’re not going to be able to be there.

Life goes by in a hurry. Don’t miss the chance to know these men who played an important part in making you you.

Renee Prusi can be contacted at 906-228-2500, ext. 240.