Goodnight, Grandpa

[eccoblackfin]

My grandfather died today. He was not doing well. This year has been hell on him, but he fought through it all...but he was tired. Brain cancer, and surgery to remove it. Broken arm, replaced with a metal one, and bone cancer. He was just so tired of it all, and I can't blame him. It was his time. A WWII veteran, he was always...grumpy. But I loved him anyway. He was surrounded by his family. My grandmother sat down in a chair next to him, away from us while we were chatting in the corner area. She just held his hand, and stroked his head, talking to him; what about I'll never know. But it seemed to satisfy him, and allow him to move on. She just sat there with him..it was pretty much the sweetest thing ever. And after twenty minutes or so of that, she rejoined us, and it seemed only minutes after that he finally was satisfied, and finally went...so peacefully, so quietly...none of us even realized it.
I like to think that this is what he wanted. Family enjoying each others' company. Not really brought down by his state, but taking advantage of the moment to be a family.
I always knew we were close, a very tightly knit group of people, but in that moment, I knew...there is no better family than mine. They are just the best.
I will miss you grandpa. I wish you could have seen me graduate. I wish you could see me get married. There are so many things you won't get to see. But I'm glad that you went the way you did. May you rest in peace.
Goodnight, dear grandpa..and good luck.