Bullets can harm you and death can disarm you...
Grandpa slipped in to a coma-like state over the weekend, but not before he had a chance to see my uncle and my cute-as-a-button, pregnant cousin Michelle from Indiana. He had a full house between my mom and the visiting relatives, so I threw myself back in to the surreal world of a 26 year old with a life outside that of a dying 76 year old man. Copious amounts of wine, movies, and other shenanigans were involved.
I spoke to Mom on Sunday and she seemed a bit on edge. She said Pappy was on a steady decline. I made the decision to make the trek back to Grandpa's after my class the following night, even though I had an early meeting in Iowa City and would be putting myself out of the way. By the time class was over and I got to Pappy's I had time to say goodnight to him before turning in.
Before I went to bed, Mom warned me she may have to wake me up if she something happened and she needed assistance. I was never woke up in a state of panic so had mistakenly assumed the night had gone relatively smoothly. I got up way too early and made my way to my meeting. I assured Mom that I would return as soon as my meeting was over. My phone never rang once during the day, so I (once again) mistakenly assumed all was well and I would return to same old scene.
Mom called when I was stopped to fill up my car, mere minutes away from Pappy's. She asked where I was and after I told her I would be there within 15 minutes, she said little to nothing else.
There were a few warm bodies milling around the driveway when I pulled in. Mom and one of Pappy's hospice nurses came up to the car before I had a chance to even get out, informing me a lifeless body was inside. Pappy had passed away about 30 minutes prior.
I didn't even say good-bye this morning.
I spoke to Mom on Sunday and she seemed a bit on edge. She said Pappy was on a steady decline. I made the decision to make the trek back to Grandpa's after my class the following night, even though I had an early meeting in Iowa City and would be putting myself out of the way. By the time class was over and I got to Pappy's I had time to say goodnight to him before turning in.
Before I went to bed, Mom warned me she may have to wake me up if she something happened and she needed assistance. I was never woke up in a state of panic so had mistakenly assumed the night had gone relatively smoothly. I got up way too early and made my way to my meeting. I assured Mom that I would return as soon as my meeting was over. My phone never rang once during the day, so I (once again) mistakenly assumed all was well and I would return to same old scene.
Mom called when I was stopped to fill up my car, mere minutes away from Pappy's. She asked where I was and after I told her I would be there within 15 minutes, she said little to nothing else.
There were a few warm bodies milling around the driveway when I pulled in. Mom and one of Pappy's hospice nurses came up to the car before I had a chance to even get out, informing me a lifeless body was inside. Pappy had passed away about 30 minutes prior.
I didn't even say good-bye this morning.