Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

lurkette · 01-30-2005, 09:12 AM

In the haze over my brother's death I sometimes "forget" that my grandfather died about 4 months before Josh did. He was 80-something and had congestive heart failure, so it wasn't a surprise - more of a blessing, really - but I still miss him. We lived about 100 yards from my grandparents my whole life, so we spent a lot of time with them and were pretty close. He was a horrible curmudgeon when we were growing up - always yelling at us to close the damn door, but he had a soft spot. He LOVED snacks and would hide them from us kids when we came over, but sophomore year in college when I stopped to visit them on the way back to campus after break, we got in the car and were pulling out of the driveway, and my grandpa came shuffling out the door waving at us to stop, and in his hand had had a can of sour cream and onion pringles - his favorite. He gave them to me and gave me a big hug and kiss, and I cried all the way home.

For our sixth anniversary we invited the whole family out for a party and my grandpa flew for the first time and saw the ocean for the first time. We talked a lot on that trip, and I told him about how I always thought I was unlovable, and he just looked at me and said "How could you think that? You're perfect. You know there's nobody else I'd make this trip for."

He was so proud of me when I changed the starter on my car - he was a car FANATIC - and loved hearing about my travels. I know grandparents say they don't have favorites, but I was his favorite, and I knew it. I called him all the time, and there are still times when I wish he was there to talk to.

When he died, I was sad I couldn't be there to say goodbye in person, but we both knew we loved each other. Maybe that's why it's been so easy to let go. The weekend after he died I was supposed to be in New Orleans for a meeting, and grandma insisted I go. While I was there, I saw 3 Rolls Royces. Grandpa would have been tickled pink to hear about them.

01-30-2005, 09:12 AM	#13 (permalink)
lurkette My future is coming on Moderator Emeritus Location: east of the sun and west of the moon	In the haze over my brother's death I sometimes "forget" that my grandfather died about 4 months before Josh did. He was 80-something and had congestive heart failure, so it wasn't a surprise - more of a blessing, really - but I still miss him. We lived about 100 yards from my grandparents my whole life, so we spent a lot of time with them and were pretty close. He was a horrible curmudgeon when we were growing up - always yelling at us to close the damn door, but he had a soft spot. He LOVED snacks and would hide them from us kids when we came over, but sophomore year in college when I stopped to visit them on the way back to campus after break, we got in the car and were pulling out of the driveway, and my grandpa came shuffling out the door waving at us to stop, and in his hand had had a can of sour cream and onion pringles - his favorite. He gave them to me and gave me a big hug and kiss, and I cried all the way home. For our sixth anniversary we invited the whole family out for a party and my grandpa flew for the first time and saw the ocean for the first time. We talked a lot on that trip, and I told him about how I always thought I was unlovable, and he just looked at me and said "How could you think that? You're perfect. You know there's nobody else I'd make this trip for." He was so proud of me when I changed the starter on my car - he was a car FANATIC - and loved hearing about my travels. I know grandparents say they don't have favorites, but I was his favorite, and I knew it. I called him all the time, and there are still times when I wish he was there to talk to. When he died, I was sad I couldn't be there to say goodbye in person, but we both knew we loved each other. Maybe that's why it's been so easy to let go. The weekend after he died I was supposed to be in New Orleans for a meeting, and grandma insisted I go. While I was there, I saw 3 Rolls Royces. Grandpa would have been tickled pink to hear about them. __________________ "If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing." - Anatole France