Ode to my Grandpa

Last night I lost my grandpa, he died of lung cancer after fighting 

for two years. I am happy that his pain is now gone and that he will 

find his way to my grandmother, but I am sad for myself and my family.

I did not expect to feel this way, after all I new it was coming, but I can't

help but wish he could stay with us. 

My grandpa had a hard life, he married my grandmother when 

she was only 14 years old and they had finished having their 5 children

by the time she was in her early 20's. Of course I'll never really know

what happened, my guess is the stress of being a mother to 5 children 

at such a young age was too much for my grandma. She eventually 

became ill and spent the rest of her years in and out of the hospital. 

My grandfather remained devoted to her for nearly 40 more years, 

he fed her, bathed her, and tried his best to keep the family together. 

8 years ago my grandmother died, grandpa was there with her until

her dying breath. I wondered if he would be happy now that he no 

longer needed to take care of her, if he would be happy to live his 

own life. When I asked him about this he simply said "my life IS 

to take care of her, that is what I am meant to do."

Grandpa, of course, continued on with a smile on his face, he trusted

without a doubt that god had a plan for him and before long he would

be back with his wife. Years went by but he never lost hope, he even

watched as his brothers and sisters passed and he became the last

in that generation of our family to be alive. Still he smiled, still he 

knew he would see them all again. 

That day did come, that day was yesterday, and I know without a 

that after 8 long years of waiting my grandma and grandpa are 

together again, in a way they could not be while they were here. 

I will always try to remember the strength he had in these years, 

is absolute trust in something bigger then us. He never lost hope or 

the smile on his face, he has taught me and all of his grandchildren 

that strength, hope, patience and laughter will not only get us to 

where we want to be but will allow us to enjoy the journey. 

I am sad because I will never see him again, sad because he will never

see my children, but if there is anything I have learned from him it is 

that I will see him again one day. Until then I must live and love and 

trust that I will get to where I want to be.