Ever since he was a teen, my man has been in love with little old ladies. He has a knack for befriending them, visiting them, and taking care of them. There were two little ladies as he was growing up that he visited regularly, Anna, and Lily. It is likely that he visited them more than their own families did. He spent many hours of the week as a teen sitting and chatting with them in their living rooms, bringing them dinner, or accompanying them on walks. Long since departed, their photographs are nestled in between our family photographs on the bookcase at the end of the upstairs hallway. We have an antique secretary desk sitting in our bedroom that belonged to one of them, on which I write and pay bills. Amelia and Diego have played with their hand-made stuffed animals--long after their makers had passed.
Giancarlo will be the first to comment on a cute little old lady in the grocery store, or chat with one in line at the post office. As long as I have known him, he has always had a little old lady somewhere in his realm of existence that he checks on regularly. I think he has a mental charm bracelet that he attaches them to, and carries them around with him. I think he collects him just like that.
Currently, our garage is half full of some of the belongings of one such little old lady. Her husband died a few months back, and when she had to move to a smaller place, she had nowhere to put her living room furniture, chairs, washer and dryer, or fridge. And because of some mysterious estrangement issues with her own children, she didn't have anyone to help her move, either. So Giancarlo hired a couple of friends of ours who are movers, rented a truck, and moved her things for her, as well as helped her clean out her old place. I know he secretly would like her to move in with us, and if we had even one spare square foot in this house of ours, I bet she would.
I can always tell when he is talking on the phone to one of his old lady friends, simply by his tone of voice. Even when it has been a long, frustrating day, he will take time to call them to see how they're doing and to offer his assistance or just a listening ear.
He has a heart of gold. No matter how many times we've argued or sat together in uncomfortable silence, there has always been that. That heart of gold.
51 comments:
I love him.
I love his heart of gold.
And I love his little old lady collection.
Beautiful!
That is a beautiful, tender quality that is of great value. Hooray for your dear-hearted man! XOXO
Perfect. Just perfect.
This is just splendidly terrific.
(Hey, love the band "The Bird and the Bee!")
Please tell Giancarlo that I am a little old lady.
What?
I am.
This is SO sweet! I love old people too, specifically the little old ones. Giancarlo sounds like a wonderful soul.
That is wonderful. My husband has a knack for charming old ladies, too. I often find him in the grocery store reaching for something on a top shelf for a senior citizen. Don't you just love that in a mate?
It's so nice to hear of others that value little old people. I find it disheartening that the elderly are so often dismissed as having no worth. What wonderful founts of resource they are!
Awww... That's so sweet!
Such faces! Who could not love a man like this??
What a lovely post.
It makes me feel good that there are people out there who just... love. And care.
MY hubby collects elderly ladies too!
And it's only one of the qualities that makes me fall in love with him all over again every time I see it.
Your man is an amazing one.
You're both lucky guys.
How could you NOT love a guy like that?!
Is it okay if I'm a little bit in love with your husband?
As is everyone on earth who reads this.
I'm scheduled to be a little old lady one of these days. Keep that guy handy.
One of the MANY reasons you love him so much, isn't it?
It must be his Italian half! ;-)
My son (who just so happens to also be 1/2 Italian and 1/2 Mexican!) has been collecting little old ladies since was a young boy, too. Definitely one thing I will always encourage him to continue.
What a beautiful post. Loved reading it. :)
giancarlo, will you marry moi? you too, jason... you guys are the gay best friends i have always wanted to have in my life. we could all be happy. i'm a good cook and so is diane.
seriously, god bless his little old lady lovin heart.
jason, i love your husband. and i love you too.
i can only imagine the joy he brings to these lil gals just by being himself. they will surely be waiting for him where ever we go from here, with all kinds of good cookin and a ton of love and good stories. i do enjoy talking to old people too because they are living history and have more wisdom than the dahli lama... in my opinion.
thanks for sharing this about your hubby and be sure to let him know how much he is loved. [i am SURE you do].
who's a good boy......?
G. is such a good boy....!!!!
c
What a lovely image--and lucky for his mama!
Absolutely lovely!
My life with my little old ladies (mother and aunt) wore me out a little bit. I wish they'd had a friend like him. They would have been over the moon!
[OK, time for that Toy Story Randy Newman song here.]
I am with Katie... I now have a small crush on your husband!!
Ian has a knack for little old ladies.. I secretly think its the uniform... But, maybe some men are just made that way!!!
Yep...he's totally going to heaven!!!
He's one of a kind! I love how you say...he collects them! I love helping Grandma reach things, get in and out of tram/bus! My daughter says it's like you can't resist!
awwww what a gorgeous post!!!
The world needs more men like him! Great post and what a great man.
That's so sweet. I can remember watching as my grandmother got older no one in the family but me and my kids (cuz they watched me) wanted to touch her anymore, like old was contagious or something. It made me want to cry. Can you imagine no one touching you or giving you a long hug for years? Barely any human contact? No wonder there's so much depression. I don't understand why people do that.
I knew Giancarlo had to be a caring and loving person by the way your family and extended family work and play together. If we lived closer I would want to be one of his little old ladies some day. Every little old lady should have a Giancarlo in her life. Bless his sweet loving caring gold heart!! Please give him a hug from me.
He's a keeper!
Your Friend, m.
How absolutely wonderful!! No wonder you love him!!
Although at first (upon reading the title) I thought you were going to reveal that he was a serial killer (I watch too much crime drama tv...AND, I watch bones too - I can gab with you by the water cooler -- if we actually had a water cooler. We just have a stupid fountain...)
ANYWAY, he sounds fab. Soon, I'll be a (not so) little old lady. Make sure you bring him by so that he can befriend me. I suspect I will have alienated everyone by then.
What a guy! And now women of all ages have a crush on him.
That's one fine husband you got there, Jason.
I love this. What a wonderful man...hearts of gold rock!
I think I would like for Giancarlo to collect me. I'll gather my things.
I loved this! Makes you just want to put your hand over your heat and say "Awww!"
At our wedding this weekend, my grandfather befriended our best-man's sister. Vicki and my grandpa talked for hours! She loved chatting with him and I think he was happy to share his stories (again!) with someone other than family! ha!
I think GC and I are somewhat kindred...at least in adoring old women. I, however, do not near match his dedicated service. How I wish we lived closer!
Oh, this brings back memories of me as a child walking down our dirt road to visit the two little old ladies who lived about a mile down. One always served ginger snaps and cranberry juice. The other wanted to badly to teach me to knit but my 10 year old hands just couldn't grasp it.
Your man is a doll for loving little old ladies... and the memories they must have had and the smiles they probably fell asleep with at night. What a lovely footprint to leave in someone's life! Friendship.
The most worthwhile collection I have heard of in a long time! And as a teacher, you collect children...you have both ends of the spectrum covered.
Loving others always makes life better, doesn't it?
That's so nice. What a wonderful person. Its always nice to talk to Old people. They long for friendship. My Mom has a few Oldie pals. Everyone at my home enjoys their presence.
Smiles:)
I love little old people, except for the bitchy mean ones!
Very cool - you have some amazing people in your life Jason! :)
My husband collects old people, too. Not to that degree though. It is very endearing.
Nice to know even when you want to strangle them, they're good guys through and through.
I don't even know him but I love him. If he's kind to old ladies he's has a very kind heart. Jason you are so lucky.
That is so sweet. He's an Angel on Earth. So many people toss the elderly aside. Giancarlo does indeed have a heart of gold!
This almost made me cry. SO sweet! Don't ever give him up, not even to a little old lady, no matter how much her pension she promises you!
I love Giancarlo for this!
Please let him know I'm collecting little old men so that they're not left out of the equation.
What a sweetie! I loved this post so much I read it to my daughter, who had this to say... "Awwwwwww"
This touching post brought tears to my eyes. What a sweet and caring man Giancarlo is...I love that he genuinely cares for little, old ladies and helps them where he can. Our elderly often go neglected in this day and age.
Incredibly sweet. A heart of gold is a wonderful thing.... it can't be taught... you either have it or you don't.
My husband has one too.
You and I are both lucky. :)
The previous commenter mentioned this same thing: sounds like something my husband would do. I love that about him... I needed this reminder of that.
I have a strange reaction to little old men though... they make me so sad; they often look so lost and forlorn.
it's seems you found yourself an angel ;)
Awwww! I <3 Giancarlo and his little old ladies! He's a keeper!
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