9 July 25

On this date in 2013 I became a grandfather! When they were teenagers my sons gave me the nickname "Seeds," and so it was determined that my grandchildren would call me Papa Seeds. This tie celebrates the birth of Mallie, featuring an image of me holding my newborn granddaughter.

9 July 24

Eleven Years a Grandpa! My family nickname is Papa Seeds. My tie shows a photo of me holding my newborn original granddaughter.

3 April 23

Today is a very special day for our family! We are celebrating the joint birthday of Paul (6) and Dana Rose (1) Kleppinger! My grandchildren call me Papa Seeds (because my sons invented "Seeds" for me about 20 years ago), and my special tie shows an image of me holding original granddaughter Mallie when she was newborn. I held both Paul and Dana Rose within days of their births. My tie bar says PAPA SEEDS too.

12 July 21

 This is a special "Papa Seeds Day" when I'm taking Mallie out to lunch and a movie. My tie is based on a photo of the moment when I first held her (back in 2013). The "Seeds" nickname came from my sons and has stuck for use by the grandchildren.

3 March 20

Gene, who is also known as Papa Seeds, thinks it is good to use the third day of the third month to promote Talk in Third Person Day. Gene's tie celebrates the moment when he first held his granddaughter Mallie. Gene loves this self-referential tie and its history! Some psychologists have observed that illeism (or "self-talk"), when one does it internally or in hushed whispers, can help quiet anxiety and regulate your emotions. Remember how powerful Inigo Montoya became, by stressing his own name. When used publicly and habitually, it can be humorous, distracting or extremely annoying. Papa Seeds hopes you will take this one day of the year to try talking or writing about yourself in the third person, just once or maybe three times. Post a Facebook status that says how you are feeling, and read it to yourself with your full name!

23 June 19

Today's tie is labeled PAPA SEEDS because that's my grandfather-name. (The boys settled on calling me "Seeds," and then Papa Seeds was the natural outcome for the next generation.) The image is of me holding Mallie a few hours after she was born, almost six years ago. I'm wearing it today to celebrate the birth (on 20 June) of JOEL WESLEY SULLIVAN KLEPPINGER, fourth child of Jonathan and Courtney! I met Joel when he was one day old.

9 July 18

Five years ago today I became a grandparent, with the birth of Mallie Jayden Elizabeth Kleppinger! My tie says "Papa Seeds" because that's my name. I'm including the photo from that day which was used for the image on my tie.

18 June 17

For Father's Day I've chosen my "Papa Seeds" tie. It is based on a photo of me, holding Mallie, shortly after she was born (in July, 2013). The name Seeds was chosen for me by Ben and Jonathan during their college years, and when I needed a nickname for grandfatherhood I became Papa Seeds. We are having lunch today at Firehouse Subs®, where dads get free subs on Father's Day. The photo shows me with my sons and grandson Paul Robert Wallace Kleppinger, being held by Uncle Ben. (Jonathan has a cast to help heal a finger that was broken in a basketball accident a few weeks ago.)

10 July 16

Happy Birthday #3 (yesterday), Mallie Jayden Elizabeth Kleppinger! Three years ago I became a grandfather and it's been wonderful to watch her grow up. "Papa Seeds" is what she calls me, and this tie features a photo of the first time I held her (at about two hours old).

27 December 15

Courtney Kleppinger's birthday is on 24 December, so I have to use a different day to honor her special day! For today she chose my "Papa Seeds" tie, which is designed around a photo of me holding my granddaughter Mallie for the very first time (about two hours after her birth). The story of "Papa Seeds" goes like this: More than ten years ago, Ben and Jonathan were playing around with nicknames for me, and settled on calling me Seeds (because they did not like "Poppy"). So when it was time to decide on a nickname for my role as grandfather, I became Papa Seeds. And by logical transference, Beth became "Mama Seeds."



Later the same day we went with Ben and Amanda to see "Star Wars 7: The Force Awakens," and I wore my Star Wars Starfighters tie!

4 August 15

Yay I'm 62 years old, which I hope to double (at least)! I'm having lunch today with Mallie and Nathanael (and Jonathan), and Mallie is also the star of my new tie! My grandpa-name is Papa Seeds, and the story of that name goes like this: about a dozen years ago my sons were toying with nicknames for me, like Pappy and Poppy, and from Poppy they settled on the wonderful option "Seeds." So when Mallie was born, I became Papa Seeds, and Beth (naturally) became Mama Seeds! The photo crafted into this tie was taken a few hours after Mallie was born.