My Grandfather and I weren't close, but every time I met him, he came off as a mafia don. I have no other way to put it. He always had obscene amounts of money that my mother couldn't explain, and his mannerisms were those of an extremely exaggerated Italian New Yorker. My mom still doesn't talk about where he got his money. I never got the chance to ask him face-to-face as an adult either.

As for my Grandmother, she was an abominable person. When my mother was pregnant with me, she had to leave my father for reasons I won't mention here, and she went to her mother's place, who had a spare bedroom. My Grandmother slammed the door in the face of my pregnant mother and four year old sisters. Relations never improved with her. I'm not sure why she was so bitter, and only when I really take the time to reflect do I think I'm kind of curious. I think if she were still alive I'd probably ask her about it, but I can't say I'm distraught over the loss.

I'm happy that you had a cool Granddad though, Taaj. He seemed like a neet dood.