Update
My grandfather passed away on May 7th. He's the only grandfather I've ever known since my dad's father was murdered when my dad was 19. My Papa was one hell of a grandpa though. I was so lucky to have had him as an important part of my life. Needless to say it's been incredibly hard. I've been trying to deal though and this will hopefully let me get it all out.
It's been so hard because he and I were so close. Even though he had 10 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren, we all had our special place in his life. He loved no child more than any other, but he made you feel like the only one in the room.
He and I used to go fishing together every time I was down there, it was our thing. He'd always get a lawn chair, some bait, a pole, and a rod and we'd sit down there and fish. He also made me call for the fish by making a fish face and yelling, "Fishy! Here fishy, fishy!" We always seemed to catch a few. He loved it so much, that the last time I saw him in the hospital he said, "Turtle Butt, when I get outta here, we'll go down and fishy fishy." He and I both knew he wasn't leaving the hospital...
I miss him everyday. Since he passed not a day has gone by that I haven't thought about him and cried. What's funny though is that I'm still expecting him to be there when I go to their house. Even though I miss him so much, I still don't believe he's actually gone.
He and my grandmother were married for over 60 years, August would have been 61 for them. I hope to have as strong as a marriage as they did, it's such an inspiration. They had such a deep love for each other, that up until the very end he was holding on because he knew she wasn't ready to lose him. It wasn't until she told him she'd be alright and see him again, that he finally let go. I wanted Hamil to ask me to marry him before he died so that I would know that my he knew and approved. I was talking to my mom about it the other day, and she said that she believed that he knew Hamilton was the one for me, and I really think she's right, he had a sense for those things.
My Papa never let us know how much he was hurting. Until the very end I don't think anyone but he and my grandmother knew exactly how sick he was. He was diagnosed with Chronic Leukemia last year and things really progressed. He passed at the age of 84, and up until the very end he was in his garden everyday taking care of it, getting on his roof and cleaning the gutters, and climbing trees to get the fruit. He loved being outside so much it broke his heart that he was too weak to do the things he loved most. At his funeral the spray on his casket was not only beautiful flowers, but also an arrangement of fruit from his own, last garden. Just as he would have wanted.
It's been so hard because he and I were so close. Even though he had 10 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren, we all had our special place in his life. He loved no child more than any other, but he made you feel like the only one in the room.
He and I used to go fishing together every time I was down there, it was our thing. He'd always get a lawn chair, some bait, a pole, and a rod and we'd sit down there and fish. He also made me call for the fish by making a fish face and yelling, "Fishy! Here fishy, fishy!" We always seemed to catch a few. He loved it so much, that the last time I saw him in the hospital he said, "Turtle Butt, when I get outta here, we'll go down and fishy fishy." He and I both knew he wasn't leaving the hospital...
I miss him everyday. Since he passed not a day has gone by that I haven't thought about him and cried. What's funny though is that I'm still expecting him to be there when I go to their house. Even though I miss him so much, I still don't believe he's actually gone.
He and my grandmother were married for over 60 years, August would have been 61 for them. I hope to have as strong as a marriage as they did, it's such an inspiration. They had such a deep love for each other, that up until the very end he was holding on because he knew she wasn't ready to lose him. It wasn't until she told him she'd be alright and see him again, that he finally let go. I wanted Hamil to ask me to marry him before he died so that I would know that my he knew and approved. I was talking to my mom about it the other day, and she said that she believed that he knew Hamilton was the one for me, and I really think she's right, he had a sense for those things.
My Papa never let us know how much he was hurting. Until the very end I don't think anyone but he and my grandmother knew exactly how sick he was. He was diagnosed with Chronic Leukemia last year and things really progressed. He passed at the age of 84, and up until the very end he was in his garden everyday taking care of it, getting on his roof and cleaning the gutters, and climbing trees to get the fruit. He loved being outside so much it broke his heart that he was too weak to do the things he loved most. At his funeral the spray on his casket was not only beautiful flowers, but also an arrangement of fruit from his own, last garden. Just as he would have wanted.