Longhorn_Fan68
1,000+ Posts
My Grandfather was always so strong.
Ever since I can remember, my Grandfather was the strongest person I knew - except for my dad, of course. He had to be strong. How else could he pick me up with such ease? How else could he give me such a big hug that I lost my breath for a second? How else could he whisk my Grandmother around the dance floor like she was floating on air? He had to be strong.
Last night the man I have always known to be the rock of the family left us. It was his time. We all would have liked to see him another day, but it was his time.
I remember when I was 10 or so we were out hunting. I was not yet old enough to have a real gun, but I did have my trusty BB gun with me. I was trailing behind my dad and Grandfather when we approached an old cedar fence. Perched in one of the corners was the biggest spider I had ever seen. The only thing I could think was that I must shoot it! (Seemed like a good idea at the time). I backed away a few steps, gave the gun a few more pumps just for good measure, took aim and fired! Somehow I missed the spider. What I didn't miss, however, was my Grandfather. I had failed to notice that he had sat down on an old log under the tree directly in my line of fire. I had gotten lucky, though. The BB had not hit him, but instead had lodged itself in the butt of his gun. "Doug, come here," he said. I instantly started to sob for I was certain I was in for a severe licking. But no, my Grandfather put his arm on my shoulder, showed me the wound I had inflicted to his shotgun and explained to me how I need to be aware of my surroundings; how I must always know what's behind what I'm shooting at. A weaker man would have given me a whipping. But my Grandfather was a strong man.
Last May he was diagnosed with lung cancer. My grandfather was still strong.
Over the summer the family got together and celebrated his birthday. It was great party. It was a celebration of his life, our lives and even new life - my cousin was expecting any day. We asked him what his favorite birthday memory was and he said, "This, having the whole family here. It's the best gift I could get."
A few weeks ago it was determined that the cancer had spread to his brain. We hoped for the best but we knew the end was near. My wife, sister and I decided we would take dinner to him and my Grandmother and try to have a brief visit. Even though he had changed a lot, he was still the same old guy. Cutting jokes with my Grandmother, hating on vegetables and loving the time with his family. What had started out be a brief visit turned into a 2+ hour event. He and my Grandmother have talked about that visit ever since. She talked to me about how much it meant to them last night.
Even though he was different, he was still the same. My grandfather was still strong.
Yesterday morning I found out that he taken a severe turn for the worse. I debated all day whether or not to go see him. I had made my peace with the situation and my last memory of him was so happy. I've watched the pain of death on my friends and loved ones faces. I wasn't ready for that yet. I still believed my Grandfather was strong. I did not want to think otherwise.
My wife finally talked me into visiting him last night. Most of the family was there. I didn't know what to expect. We were the last of the family to arrive. My Grandmother came out and gave me a hug. It was an intensely long embrace and I knew then the severity of the situation. She sat down to try to eat some soup and after a few moments she looked at me and asked if I had gone to say hi yet. I said no. She encouraged me to. My dad and I went into the room where he was resting and my uncle was sitting on the bed, holding his hand. My dad and I walked to the other side of the bed and stood there for a moment. My uncle then whispered to my Grandfather, "Doug is here to see you." He got up and let me and my dad there be there with him. I walked around and grabbed his hand. He could not respond, but I knew he could see me. I just held his hand. There were no words. I gave him a smile and told him I loved him. After a few minutes, he was gone.
My Grandfather had waited for me. He had been strong one more time - for me.
I love you, Granddad.
Ever since I can remember, my Grandfather was the strongest person I knew - except for my dad, of course. He had to be strong. How else could he pick me up with such ease? How else could he give me such a big hug that I lost my breath for a second? How else could he whisk my Grandmother around the dance floor like she was floating on air? He had to be strong.
Last night the man I have always known to be the rock of the family left us. It was his time. We all would have liked to see him another day, but it was his time.
I remember when I was 10 or so we were out hunting. I was not yet old enough to have a real gun, but I did have my trusty BB gun with me. I was trailing behind my dad and Grandfather when we approached an old cedar fence. Perched in one of the corners was the biggest spider I had ever seen. The only thing I could think was that I must shoot it! (Seemed like a good idea at the time). I backed away a few steps, gave the gun a few more pumps just for good measure, took aim and fired! Somehow I missed the spider. What I didn't miss, however, was my Grandfather. I had failed to notice that he had sat down on an old log under the tree directly in my line of fire. I had gotten lucky, though. The BB had not hit him, but instead had lodged itself in the butt of his gun. "Doug, come here," he said. I instantly started to sob for I was certain I was in for a severe licking. But no, my Grandfather put his arm on my shoulder, showed me the wound I had inflicted to his shotgun and explained to me how I need to be aware of my surroundings; how I must always know what's behind what I'm shooting at. A weaker man would have given me a whipping. But my Grandfather was a strong man.
Last May he was diagnosed with lung cancer. My grandfather was still strong.
Over the summer the family got together and celebrated his birthday. It was great party. It was a celebration of his life, our lives and even new life - my cousin was expecting any day. We asked him what his favorite birthday memory was and he said, "This, having the whole family here. It's the best gift I could get."
A few weeks ago it was determined that the cancer had spread to his brain. We hoped for the best but we knew the end was near. My wife, sister and I decided we would take dinner to him and my Grandmother and try to have a brief visit. Even though he had changed a lot, he was still the same old guy. Cutting jokes with my Grandmother, hating on vegetables and loving the time with his family. What had started out be a brief visit turned into a 2+ hour event. He and my Grandmother have talked about that visit ever since. She talked to me about how much it meant to them last night.
Even though he was different, he was still the same. My grandfather was still strong.
Yesterday morning I found out that he taken a severe turn for the worse. I debated all day whether or not to go see him. I had made my peace with the situation and my last memory of him was so happy. I've watched the pain of death on my friends and loved ones faces. I wasn't ready for that yet. I still believed my Grandfather was strong. I did not want to think otherwise.
My wife finally talked me into visiting him last night. Most of the family was there. I didn't know what to expect. We were the last of the family to arrive. My Grandmother came out and gave me a hug. It was an intensely long embrace and I knew then the severity of the situation. She sat down to try to eat some soup and after a few moments she looked at me and asked if I had gone to say hi yet. I said no. She encouraged me to. My dad and I went into the room where he was resting and my uncle was sitting on the bed, holding his hand. My dad and I walked to the other side of the bed and stood there for a moment. My uncle then whispered to my Grandfather, "Doug is here to see you." He got up and let me and my dad there be there with him. I walked around and grabbed his hand. He could not respond, but I knew he could see me. I just held his hand. There were no words. I gave him a smile and told him I loved him. After a few minutes, he was gone.
My Grandfather had waited for me. He had been strong one more time - for me.
I love you, Granddad.
