Blah
I just learned tonight that sometime between June 27th and June 28th, my great-grandfather passed away. I am a peace with it now.
Over Memorial Day weekend my mother told me he was dying, and not expected to make it another day. I was a basket case. About two months prior I had been going through my family history files and found a letter he wrote me in 1996 (he was a great letter writer, he actually just wrote me a short and sweet one a week ago) telling me that he couldn't wait to see everything I'd figured out for his family tree.
I had been working on it well prior to 1996, yet had yet to send him the file. Realizing that perfectionism needs to be set aside at some point, and that been born in 1920 aren't going to live forever, I printed out the entire file that night. Only to have it sit waiting to be mailed.
Upon learning about his imminent death, I overnighted the file, feeling somewhat guilt. What if he was already dead when my grandmother received it? How would it make her feel? He wasn't, in fact, my grandfather (his son) states he thinks it rallied him. He spent countless hours reading it over and making additions. Now I am at peace.
I feel terrible for my grandmother, their 68th wedding anniversary would be next week. They are/were that sweet old couple that you look at and hope to be someday, even in your denial that you will get old. They have always been madly in love, and I don't know what will happen to her. They've been together, outside of marriage, for over 70 years. Talk about having your right arm cut off.
My mother (his granddaughter in-law) is upset, because there is talk that the funeral may not be in his hometown. He finally sold his last piece of property up there (he was a real estate broker/company owner) two years ago. While a lot of his family does not live in Florida, I could assure you the turnout in his hometown would be heavy. He was well loved by all, I'm just glad Shan got to meet him and appreciate him and his funny stories of his wild youth. Either way, he will be buried alongside his parents.
Some don't seem to take this serious. Oh, your great-grandfather, not your grandfather? While I love my grandfather in a different way, he was never much of a grandfather for me during the first 18 years of my life. Jack, my great-grandfather, was. He basically raised my father as well, taking him into his home for several years.
Over Memorial Day weekend my mother told me he was dying, and not expected to make it another day. I was a basket case. About two months prior I had been going through my family history files and found a letter he wrote me in 1996 (he was a great letter writer, he actually just wrote me a short and sweet one a week ago) telling me that he couldn't wait to see everything I'd figured out for his family tree.
I had been working on it well prior to 1996, yet had yet to send him the file. Realizing that perfectionism needs to be set aside at some point, and that been born in 1920 aren't going to live forever, I printed out the entire file that night. Only to have it sit waiting to be mailed.
Upon learning about his imminent death, I overnighted the file, feeling somewhat guilt. What if he was already dead when my grandmother received it? How would it make her feel? He wasn't, in fact, my grandfather (his son) states he thinks it rallied him. He spent countless hours reading it over and making additions. Now I am at peace.
I feel terrible for my grandmother, their 68th wedding anniversary would be next week. They are/were that sweet old couple that you look at and hope to be someday, even in your denial that you will get old. They have always been madly in love, and I don't know what will happen to her. They've been together, outside of marriage, for over 70 years. Talk about having your right arm cut off.
My mother (his granddaughter in-law) is upset, because there is talk that the funeral may not be in his hometown. He finally sold his last piece of property up there (he was a real estate broker/company owner) two years ago. While a lot of his family does not live in Florida, I could assure you the turnout in his hometown would be heavy. He was well loved by all, I'm just glad Shan got to meet him and appreciate him and his funny stories of his wild youth. Either way, he will be buried alongside his parents.
Some don't seem to take this serious. Oh, your great-grandfather, not your grandfather? While I love my grandfather in a different way, he was never much of a grandfather for me during the first 18 years of my life. Jack, my great-grandfather, was. He basically raised my father as well, taking him into his home for several years.