December Challenge: Day 25 – William Auer

William Auer

This is my Grandpa Bill. Truthfully, I don't even know how old he is (my Mom just informed me that he's 75). You wouldn't know it by watching him get around and take care of everything himself. He's had both knees completely replaced, he's got really bad arthritis in his wrists, and I think his back is starting to give him problems. And yet… he plays with my kids, builds camp fires, shoots guns, and travels frequently to other countries. Just this last year, him and my Dad went to Taiwan and Borneo and hiked all around the mountains for days on end (my Dad said he had a hard time keeping up sometimes).

Aside from his brutal stubbornness to do everything for himself, he's got to be one of the nicest and sweetest men I know. He lives just a few miles up the road from us, and he's always more than accommodating to have us over for dinner and whatnot. The kids love him to pieces and they get so excited to go to his house.

He was also a Marine, he likes guns, he like swords, and he likes all things of the Asian culture. In this photo, he was looking back through one of his yearbooks (I think from his days at the academy). The late afternoon sun was shining through the windows across the room and he lit up like a Christmas tree. Here are some other photos from our little family get-together on Christmas day.

The Guys I Grew Up WithSanta's GiftThe Big KidHoliday BeerThe Vest GirlsBe Afraid... Be Very Afraid

To see the rest of my December Challenge photos, check the “Challenge” category here on the blog or visit my Flickr Set.