Grandpa Great

Yesterday we lost my grandfather, and while we are very sad to lose him in our lives, we rejoice in the fact that is now free of the diseases that ravaged his body and mind.  For the vast majority of his 86 years he led an active life, he had an enormous and beautiful yard/garden and had one of the best Christmas displays on the block.

He had a knack for remembering to do the little things that showed you how much he loved you.  I love raspberries, so anytime I was going to be home he'd pick all the raspberries he could find in his garden and bring them straight to me (to the chagrin of the rest of my family who might have wanted some.)  In his later years when he moved slower he sometimes spent the entire day before I arrived picking them just for me.  He also made a point of always wearing a shirt, sweater or hat I had given him anytime I came home for a visit, in fact the 49ers hat he's wearing in these photos has to be the one I have him over a decade ago.  He not only wore it when I was home, he took such great care of it that it still looks nearly new.

I stole the title of this post from one my sister wrote yesterday.  For some reason when my niece was born we started calling him grandpa great instead of great grandpa.  I don't remember who started or why, but it always felt exactly right.  He loved his little M & T.

Last summer my grandpa was at my parent's house while I was there trying on a dress to get my mom's opinion.  I thought he had dozed off, but as I walked past him to change back into my regular clothes he stopped me to tell me how beautiful I was and that I looked just like my grandma.  As he had lost his sweetheart just months before it is probably the most lovely compliment anyone has every given me.  I don't know that I've ever looked much like my grandma, but to him in that moment I was as beautiful as the woman he spent over 50 years loving.

I'm so grateful for my belief that he is once again reunited with my grandma.  I hope today they are enjoying a good catch up and that he is celebrating the return of a strong body and mind.  And I am eternally grateful that he was a part of my life.

I was a wise man

I lived my life

As if tomorrow wasn't there

I loved my people

I walked the line

Now I'm flyin' through the air

On a cloud

Lookin' down

Tell my brothers that I love 'em

Tell my sisters that I'm free

Tell my children, oh, how I miss 'em

But Heaven's waitin' for me there

And I'm flyin' like a bird

It's everything that you heard

Keep your eye's up in the sky

You might see me sailing by

Farewell fine people

We'll meet again

In a better time and place

A look toward the Heaven

When I cross your mind

You just might see my face

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