Photo: D Sharon Pruitt, Flickr

John’s dad didn’t know our boys, because he died before they were born (he didn’t get to meet any of his grandkids — there are 8), and today marks the very day he passed away. February 9, a Tuesday, 11 years ago. He was 51.

Joey and Danny may have never met their Grandpa Donaldson, but that doesn’t mean they don’t know him. Thanks to stories and photographs, they’ve got what they think are memories of the guy who loved the TV show “The Hulk,” always worked several jobs to support his family of five and custom-made for their daddy a skateboard with wheels that went round and round and never did work very well.

They know their grandpa was a really tall man (maybe that’s why Joey is almost 5 feet tall in the third grade). They know he taught his own three boys that no job is worth doing if it isn’t done right. And they know, most of all, that their dad loves his dad with every inch of his heart.

When Joey was just a wee little one — actually, he was never “wee,” but when he was younger, he told John that the clouds are his dad’s eyes, and he is watching him all the time. Maybe he’s right. And if he is, well, then, perhaps he does know our boys. And wouldn’t that be nice?