Why Did My Grandpa Call Me A Beautiful Capitalist?

Finding Joy In An Old Letter

“Humans, not places, make memories.” ― Ama Ata Aidoo

Lately, I have been going through old notebooks, scrapbooks, and photo albums. Much to my delight, I found an old letter from my grandpa Art amongst my memories.

He must have written me this letter when I was in grade school. He sent it to me while he and my grandma Marion were on an RV camping trip to the Redwoods along the coast of California.

What I found most delightful was the exuberant title he included at the top. It read: Trista Johnston-Entrepreneur-Store Keeper-Beautiful Capitalist!

I appreciate this letter, as it feels like a sign from him to keep following my dreams.

My grandpa was such a dreamer and believer. He spent a lot of his life in sales of various things, including ice machines to restaurants. Some of his ventures worked out, and others did not. However, his enthusiasm for life and for trying new things never ended.

It is amazing sometimes how life works. The joy we find, even in failure, never ceases to amaze us.

My grandparents once invested a lot of money with someone who they thought they could trust. However, that person ended up stealing his investor’s money. Since it was such a large amount, they had to sell their home and move in with us.

I was in grade school at the time. For me, it was an opportunity to have my beloved grandparents closer to me. They loved spending time with us in their retirement years.

I am grateful for these twists and turns in life because we grew closer because of it.

A the time of this letter, I must have been collecting rocks, sticks, and other things to sell in a make-believe store. What I love most is that my grandpa mentions it in the letter.

“We thought (the beach) would be a great place for you- you could gather rocks and drift for your store.”

He always believed in possibility. I got that sense from him. Even though he had strong opinions on certain things, he had a twinkle in his eye. I love that he called me a capitalist. It was his way of supporting my dreams.

Thank you, grandpa, with all of my heart for reaching out to me yesterday through this found letter.

I continue to be an entrepreneur, paving new paths in my life and sharing them with others. I have had many formal businesses in my life. These include a home bakery, a pie business, and an organizing business.

I appreciate you, grandpa, for always believing in me.

Do you have a story of gratitude for your grandparents?