The Good Times And Person I Will Miss
I've had quite a day and I think I'll retell it from the beginning. Monday's are always really long days for me. I'm at school from 9 something till nearly 6:00. Today was further complicated by needing to schedule my classes for next semester and falling asleep after my alarm went off. Thankfully, I only slept 20 minutes more and was able to get classes registered without a problem. I'm really looking forward to my schedule next semester and think it will be significantly less insane than the one I have now. I will be sure and let you know on that one. While I was late for class, it wasn't horribly late and I'm fairly positive it will be the only time I'll be late all semester, because that's the kind of student I am.
That is only a small piece of excitement however. I ended up subbing for one of my fellow writing instructors which I was a little scared to do since you never know how people are going to act with a substitute teacher, but it ended up going really great. The class was very well-behaved and it was actually an easy day to fill in on. Since I've only taught one class it was really interesting to see the makeup of students and those sorts of things as well.
After class was finally over I went home and checked the mail. In a bonanza of Republican political ads (which makes no sense, because I've never even voted for Republicans in the primaries when there are often one or no Democrats running for a particular position), I found my actual absentee ballot. I'm glad it has made its way here so I can get it mailed back in plenty of time. I received the previously mentioned comic that I'm strangely excited about which was even more awesome.
As I started to eat dinner I was thinking about how nice today actually turned out when it could have been pretty awful. I was pretty thankful for that. And then my Dad called which I thought I was weird. I of course answered and he told me the news. After declining health and a lot of suffering, my Grandpa passed away today. In some ways, the end was always coming, but in others it was a surprise. His health has gotten worse since I last saw him in early August, but still it was a surprise. Death is always like that. It comes when you don't expect it even if you really should. Just a couple days ago when I had heard he wasn't doing as well, I told my brother I really hope to see him again and as I know now, I won't get that chance. I remember the last conversation we had before he went back to his room in the nursing home. He told me to work hard here at K-State and to not worry about him. The first part I've done, but second part hasn't been so easy.
I don't want to feel sad for his passing because his health was so bad he couldn't do anything he enjoyed anymore. The strokes had made him nearly blind over the past couple weeks and he couldn't even eat food on his own anymore. So in that sense, I want to celebrate his life and not feel sad about his death.
Grandpa hadn't been quite the man he was, the one that everyone in my family loved. He was one of the nicest people I've ever had the honor of knowing. Whenever we came to visit, he'd always ask me and my brother "What's new fellas?" Grandpa was also very funny in a way that his generation is/was. They came from the time of good clean fun and his upbeat attitude was always a nice change of pace from the kind of jokes people our age like. Grandpa was also pretty handy around the house and in the kitchen. He made excellent salad dressing, cole slaw, and buckeyes. He was always helping my Grandma in the kitchen as well which speaks to the love they shared.
While I could talk much more about the wonderful person Grandpa was, I think what I'll always remember and miss the most is spending time with him and my Grandma. My Dad, brother, and I went to their house or out to eat with them probably two to three times a month. We celebrated I don't know how many holidays together, had cookouts, and always ate great food. Even in the "jaded" teenage years, I never minded visiting Grandma and Grandpa, because I knew I was lucky to have them. As I think back, that was one of the better decisions I've made in my my life, because I know both my Grandparents and my Dad and brother and I's lives were all enriched by these experience
It is those times I find myself longing for. When you lose someone, you always wish you had more time with them. If only you could sit down with them one more time. When I heard the news of Grandpa's passing I was stoic. My emotionless state surprised me and disappointed me in a way, but as I type this, I finally feel the rightful sense of loss. I lost a good man today and my life is poorer without you Grandpa. After losing my Mom much too soon, faith has not been strong in my family. I confess that I don't believe, but if there is an afterlife, I know that Grandpa lived well and will be there soon.
As for me, it's going to be a tough couple of days. I didn't want to cry, but its already too late. Typing this up, finally did that to me. And you know what, I'm glad I did. Sometimes you need to remember you're alive. That all the cynicism we fall into is ill-founded. Most of all, that there is good in this world, even if it is so hard to see sometimes. I see it, more than I have in a while, and I will miss it. I really will.
That is only a small piece of excitement however. I ended up subbing for one of my fellow writing instructors which I was a little scared to do since you never know how people are going to act with a substitute teacher, but it ended up going really great. The class was very well-behaved and it was actually an easy day to fill in on. Since I've only taught one class it was really interesting to see the makeup of students and those sorts of things as well.
After class was finally over I went home and checked the mail. In a bonanza of Republican political ads (which makes no sense, because I've never even voted for Republicans in the primaries when there are often one or no Democrats running for a particular position), I found my actual absentee ballot. I'm glad it has made its way here so I can get it mailed back in plenty of time. I received the previously mentioned comic that I'm strangely excited about which was even more awesome.
As I started to eat dinner I was thinking about how nice today actually turned out when it could have been pretty awful. I was pretty thankful for that. And then my Dad called which I thought I was weird. I of course answered and he told me the news. After declining health and a lot of suffering, my Grandpa passed away today. In some ways, the end was always coming, but in others it was a surprise. His health has gotten worse since I last saw him in early August, but still it was a surprise. Death is always like that. It comes when you don't expect it even if you really should. Just a couple days ago when I had heard he wasn't doing as well, I told my brother I really hope to see him again and as I know now, I won't get that chance. I remember the last conversation we had before he went back to his room in the nursing home. He told me to work hard here at K-State and to not worry about him. The first part I've done, but second part hasn't been so easy.
I don't want to feel sad for his passing because his health was so bad he couldn't do anything he enjoyed anymore. The strokes had made him nearly blind over the past couple weeks and he couldn't even eat food on his own anymore. So in that sense, I want to celebrate his life and not feel sad about his death.
Grandpa hadn't been quite the man he was, the one that everyone in my family loved. He was one of the nicest people I've ever had the honor of knowing. Whenever we came to visit, he'd always ask me and my brother "What's new fellas?" Grandpa was also very funny in a way that his generation is/was. They came from the time of good clean fun and his upbeat attitude was always a nice change of pace from the kind of jokes people our age like. Grandpa was also pretty handy around the house and in the kitchen. He made excellent salad dressing, cole slaw, and buckeyes. He was always helping my Grandma in the kitchen as well which speaks to the love they shared.
While I could talk much more about the wonderful person Grandpa was, I think what I'll always remember and miss the most is spending time with him and my Grandma. My Dad, brother, and I went to their house or out to eat with them probably two to three times a month. We celebrated I don't know how many holidays together, had cookouts, and always ate great food. Even in the "jaded" teenage years, I never minded visiting Grandma and Grandpa, because I knew I was lucky to have them. As I think back, that was one of the better decisions I've made in my my life, because I know both my Grandparents and my Dad and brother and I's lives were all enriched by these experience
It is those times I find myself longing for. When you lose someone, you always wish you had more time with them. If only you could sit down with them one more time. When I heard the news of Grandpa's passing I was stoic. My emotionless state surprised me and disappointed me in a way, but as I type this, I finally feel the rightful sense of loss. I lost a good man today and my life is poorer without you Grandpa. After losing my Mom much too soon, faith has not been strong in my family. I confess that I don't believe, but if there is an afterlife, I know that Grandpa lived well and will be there soon.
As for me, it's going to be a tough couple of days. I didn't want to cry, but its already too late. Typing this up, finally did that to me. And you know what, I'm glad I did. Sometimes you need to remember you're alive. That all the cynicism we fall into is ill-founded. Most of all, that there is good in this world, even if it is so hard to see sometimes. I see it, more than I have in a while, and I will miss it. I really will.