Reflections on my grandfather

My paternal grandfather died yesterday last year. It seems like a lot of time has passed since then, but I can still remember the days just before and after. Baby was only a few months ago, but we also journeyed up to the Islands where Grandma and Grandpa lived. Grandpa had been in a nursing home the last few years after suffering a stroke, and also worsening dementia, but Grandma, whose still strong and able, visited him almost daily.

On the days just before, we noted that Grandpa had stopped eating and drinking. He had recently suffered a bad fall, and I guess he had decided it was time to go. A couple days before he passed away, my wife, daughter and I visited Grandpa, and said goodbye. He had a lot of trouble speaking, but was calm and happy to see us. He was happy to see his one and only great-granddaughter, who was only a chubby little baby at the time. We said goodbye, and left.

Two days later my Grandmother called and said that he had passed away. My grandparents were Lutherans, and shortly before Grandpa had passed away, he started to fade away. Fortunately, the local pastor happened to be at the Nursing Home, as was my Grandma. She told me that they sang hymns in the final hour of Grandpa’s life, and he died very peacefully. It was really touching she said.

Like anyone reading this, I’ve lost a number of people through my life. A couple friends died in car accidents. One person I know was shot trying to break up a fight at a nightclub. My other grandmother died painfully from cancer when I was 13 (I only saw her just after she passed away at the hospital). So thinking back to all this makes me wonder how I’ll die someday: peacefully, in great pain or by accident. There’s not really much I can do about it, but just wondering.

This also leads to the thought of what my legacy will be. I think this is something we should all ponder. My grandpa was well-liked, a WWII veteran in the European Theater (he was an airplane engineer), and respected in his community. I remember in younger years he was often smiling and happy to talk to strangers, who in turn liked him a lot. The nursing staff also liked him a lot because he always said ‘hi’ and was a gentlemen at all time. He even said thank you i his last days for all their kindness.

So anyways, this post is in memory of Grandpa.

Namuamidabu