June 17, 2004

My Grandpa

I didn't think it would make much of an impact on most of you, what with Ronald Reagan and Ray Charles passing last week, but my grandfather died one week ago today. My step-grandfather, actually. My mother was only 9 months old when her father died (fishing, Lake Superior), and Grandma married Jim a few years later. They were married for 20-some years before they got divorced, and he always remained part of the family.

I wasn't very close to him; certainly not as close as I would have liked to be, definitely not as close as I should have been.

I can't tell you if he was a good person. Maybe not since there must have been a reason for the divorce. Maybe not because, though he suffered from Alzheimer's, it was the years of drinking and smoking that got him. I can tell you he was always good to me.

I know he was in the Jaycees for many, many years. I know he loved the outdoors. I know he used to take the Grandkids up to 'Ditch Camp' for fishing. I only went once (too young when he was doing that) and didn't catch a thing, but he did and cooked the only fish I have ever been able to eat.

He had a beautiful little cabin up in Pinetop/Lakeside where he spent his final years. He had a standing invitation for us all to come visit him but few of us did; it was too far, we were too busy, or (my personal favorite) it was too cold up there in the snow. Once again, I missed the opportunity to spend time with someone before they were gone. I missed the chance to be sure he knew that I loved him.

This is one of my favorite pictures,
the two of us dancing at my mother's wedding (9 years ago)

The song was "As Time Goes By"

Posted by Vox at June 17, 2004 11:49 AM | family
Comments

All too soon, friends and families are taken from us. Either we were close and we miss them terribly, or we wish were were closer so that we *could* miss them terribly.

My prayers are with you; I'm sorry for you and your family's loss.

Posted by: Michael at June 17, 2004 12:25 PM

Sorry to hear about your loss girlfriend. No loss is easy.

Posted by: Lori at June 17, 2004 11:47 PM