I'm glad you're finally resting Grandpa.
Last night, my Grandpa Heap lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. It has been a long, hard road for all of us but especially for him. I feel very confused at the moment because I'm terribly relieved that he's not suffering anymore but even in that knowledge, my pain isn't any less.
I do take great comfort in knowing that Grandpa is in Heaven, probably teaching Janet how to tap dance. That's how I see him in Heaven...tap dancing. When he was little, he tap danced on the radio then later for the USO. One of the last times I saw him, before his memories of me were completely lost, he took out his tap shoes and talked about them for at least an hour. He was telling me how they'd just had new plates put on and he hadn't had the chance to wear them out yet. I have no idea when those shoes were replated but it made him so happy to talk about them. So I like to think that he's getting to use them again.
My Grandfather was a wonderful, sweet, unique soul who always seemed to have a smile on his face and a story on the tip of his tongue. Those stories that he told all of us many, many times will live on and will keep the rest of us smiling for the rest of our lives. I know thinking of his stories will keep me going.
Losing him is hitting our family pretty hard. But like my Uncle Dave pointed out a little while ago, the strength of the Heap family is our ability to laugh no matter how bad the situation is. I know we will get through this, laughing and crying together. And Grandpa would want us to smile.
To my family: I love all of you. You mean the world to me and even though I might not be able to help at all, always know that I'll be there no matter what...whenever you need me. I wish I could hug every single one of you right this second, but I know I'll have to wait until I see you all in person. You all will never know how much you mean to me. Thank you for being my family.
To everyone else: I ask for prayers for myself and my family because its going to be a tough one. I'm going to try and keep going like I always do because I know Grandpa would want me to and if I don't I know I'll just keep crying. Thanks guys.
love, Sam
I do take great comfort in knowing that Grandpa is in Heaven, probably teaching Janet how to tap dance. That's how I see him in Heaven...tap dancing. When he was little, he tap danced on the radio then later for the USO. One of the last times I saw him, before his memories of me were completely lost, he took out his tap shoes and talked about them for at least an hour. He was telling me how they'd just had new plates put on and he hadn't had the chance to wear them out yet. I have no idea when those shoes were replated but it made him so happy to talk about them. So I like to think that he's getting to use them again.
My Grandfather was a wonderful, sweet, unique soul who always seemed to have a smile on his face and a story on the tip of his tongue. Those stories that he told all of us many, many times will live on and will keep the rest of us smiling for the rest of our lives. I know thinking of his stories will keep me going.
Losing him is hitting our family pretty hard. But like my Uncle Dave pointed out a little while ago, the strength of the Heap family is our ability to laugh no matter how bad the situation is. I know we will get through this, laughing and crying together. And Grandpa would want us to smile.
To my family: I love all of you. You mean the world to me and even though I might not be able to help at all, always know that I'll be there no matter what...whenever you need me. I wish I could hug every single one of you right this second, but I know I'll have to wait until I see you all in person. You all will never know how much you mean to me. Thank you for being my family.
To everyone else: I ask for prayers for myself and my family because its going to be a tough one. I'm going to try and keep going like I always do because I know Grandpa would want me to and if I don't I know I'll just keep crying. Thanks guys.
love, Sam