– The Statue of Liberty arrived in New York Harbor.
– Louis Pasteur successfully tested his vaccine against rabies.
– Mark Twain first published Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
– The first appendectomy was performed.
– The Washington Monument was dedicated.
– The soft drink Dr. Pepper was first served.

What do all of these events have in common? 1885. The year my Grampa was born. 

If Grampa were still living, today would have been his 125th birthday. Amazingly enough, we had the great fortune to have him with us until he was just a few days shy of 106. He remains one of the best people I’ve known. And I still miss him — especially around Christmas. Growing up, Christmas meant going to Grampa’s house, almost without exception. The faint scent of Old Spice, his seeming inability to sit still, his red Christmas sweater pulled tight around his Pooh Bear belly, his kindly Pooh Bear voice … these are the things I miss the most. But I still have many happy reminders of him around our house — including this photo of him on an ice skating date with my Grandma over in Webster Groves.  

I sure wish Grampa could’ve met the boys. They would’ve adored each other.