Otis

Okay so I'm sitting at the American Red Cross, all ready to donate after having gone through the same 87 questions to make sure I'm safe to donate (and no, I've never had a derma brain graft, taken cow steroids or had sex with a man who's had sex with another man for drugs or money - just in case you were wondering).  They're pretty busy on Friday's apparently (note:  don't go on Friday) so I'm in the waiting area.  And there sits Otis.  Who is Otis?  Otis is:

• Eighty-three years old
• Just sold all 135 acres of his farm to 3 of his 7 children
• Had a son who died 8 hours after birth (they didn't have to name him back then, they just call him 'baby boy')
• Has either worked on a farm his whole life or has owned one
• Hates television and only watches Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune
• Has spent the last 35 years volunteering as Santa at the Batavia Veteran's Hospital
• Was spared from the draft in WWII because he was needed at the milk farm he worked at
• Nickname:  Otie

I love Otie.  He was a tall man with a handsome face, even at eighty-three.  He's sort of that quintessential 'grumpy old man' but with a very sweet side and that may be why I love him so.  When they called me in I stood up, said "Well Otis, they're calling me in, have a great Christmas!" and shook his hand and that's the first time he smiled the whole 25 minutes we were sitting there.  He was either happy to see me leave or he liked talking with someone so young (ahem) and chatty.  I'm going with the latter here.