Beth "Princess" Petralia

Many of my Pap-pap memories are events--singing “Over the Hill and Through the Woods,” receiving handwritten letters in the mail ($1 for me, $1 for Jeff included), teaching me how to pump on the swings, handing me bread to feed the ducks, watching me perform “Danny Boy” on the community college stage, singing along to a tape of the Blue Band as we drove to a Penn State game (in the world’s coolest van), enjoying ice cream from The Creamery, chomping down as a family on veal loaf sandwiches, teaching us to fish in the Outer Banks. Other memories are of sage advice--“Follow the money” when accepting a job, “Move forward, don’t look back” when making life decisions.

My memories are of scattered events, typical childhood moments, followed by words of wisdom in my young adult years. When these moments happened, I did not take deliberate note of them, yet so many of them stayed with me. Why?

After some reflection, the answer was clear. I remember those moments and words because of the feelings I get when I relive them--love, warmth, comfort, guidance, innocence, humor, acceptance--the same feelings present at the memory’s creation.

For 100 years now, my Pap-pap has made those around him feel worthy. My concrete memories are important to me, surely, but the feelings they birthed have only magnified over time, meaning those moments--ephemeral, transient--will remain with me forever.

When I feel down or alone, I pick a Pap-pap memory, and I’m at peace, loved, home.

Happy birthday, Pap-pap. I can only hope we’ve given you the same magical memories you’ve given so many of us.