Monday, March 30, 2015

For Grandpa

My grandpa passed away last week. We knew he'd gotten his final marching orders for a while now but it was still hard news to hear. He has been a very strong, positive influence to everyone within his reach and will be terribly, terribly missed. I feel for his children and especially Grandma. They have been through so much life together. But I also feel proud and happy for Grandpa: I hope when I go I finish half as strong as he did - he accomplished so much with his life, had so many he'd helped and who loved and admired him, and was always a good, kind patriarch in our family, a veritable rock for all of us. Grandpa's memorial was Saturday, and was called a "Celebration of Life," which I think was very appropriate.

We spent many a holiday with them in Iowa, they made frequent trips to see us in VA, or at weddings and reunions, and Grandma and Grandpa had us grand kids for a week or two every summer growing up, so I have many memories to treasure with Grandpa. His infectious chuckle over a game of cards, his jokes that started out straight faced and didn't break till the punch line and you were already laughing, taking the dog out for an evening walk and not talking much but feeling proud to be in Grandpa's company...and then, later, when they made the trip to UT when I got married, they were there waiting when we got out of the temple just to be present on one of the biggest days of my life. They included us in their big days too. Not long ago they brought us all together to celebrate 60 years of marriage.
 Other golden memories: Grandpa was taking my own children, toddlers at the time, by the hand to show them the birds congregating around the feeder, or entertaining Joe by returning his toy again and again after the rest of us have lost interest. He was a patient man. A good man. The strong, silent type, at least till he said the blessing on the food and got choked up just thanking God for his family. Grandpa is the still water that runs deep, the kind of person whose presence filled up a room, even if he just was quietly sitting in his armchair reading a paper.
Grandpa was not the kind to preach; he didn't need to when his example said it all. He worked hard, delt kindly and honestly with people, protected and supported his loved ones, adored his wife, was charitable in word and deed, found humor in difficulty, and didn't complain. It's a priceless legacy he left which every one of his posterity will keep close to their hearts, and do their best to live up to. I will look forward to seeing his kind eyes again when it's my turn to go, until then...I'll just be thankful for the memories. In the off-chance that you'll read this (which, I don't know, maybe messages from the heart make it up there too) : I love you, Grandpa. Thank you for everything.

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