My Late Grandfather: Brian Blizzard

Someone in my life that has played a significant role in my childhood and has always had a great influence on my life is my late grandfather, Brian Blizzard. Brian lived a long wonderful life that sadly ended at the age of 88 on April 24, 2013. He lived his entire life filled with ambition, values, and many goals that he ultimately fulfilled.

As a child, I remember my father bringing me to his house in Maryland often, which was around thirty minutes away from our own home. My grandparents lived in a rural area, with a farm directly across from their home, that my siblings and I would often visit. Being that I always had housekeepers and nannies to look after and take care of my every need, taking a short trip over to my grandparent’s house was a time where just for a few short hours, I could learn how to take care of a home and a yard. My grandparents were the ones that taught me how to wash dishes, make a sandwich, and take care of the yard. Although these types of things might seem so small to others, but to me, they are not; these times humbled me.

On the way as we were driving, my father says “Grandpa wants to teach you both something today that he feels you will enjoy”. I remember wondering what it could possibly be that he was talking about. As we pulled up to the long driveway, I saw my grandfather, who was six feet and five inches tall, standing in the garage alongside two green four wheelers. At the time I had never ridden one before, let alone considered riding one, but knowing my grandfather’s adventurous personality, I quickly began to assume what soon became reality: my grandfather was going to teach us how to ride a four wheeler. He was exceptionally patient with me as I slowly drove through the farm passing a great deal of farm animals that I was, at the time, so afraid