9/5/08 Grandpa

I’ve been AWOL lately because I’ve been down in Savannah. My grandfather died on Monday, and Tony and I went down for the funeral on Wednesday. While I’m sad to see him go, I think my whole family will attest that he’s in a much better place now. Alzheimers was giving him a lot of trouble there at the end, whereas now his mind is clear and he feels no pain and confusion. Grandpa loved to tell stories too, and I figure he’s thrilled to have a whole new heavenly audience that hasn’t heard any of his stories before (of if they have, they’ll enjoy them anyway, because it’s Heaven).

He was a husband, father to six kids, a Navy man, a veteran of both WWII and the Korean War, a captain of the volunteer fire department, grandfather, and great-grandfather. The memorial service was standing room only- that’s how loved he was.

To me, he was just Grandpa. He did a fantastic impression of Daffy Duck that I thought was the funniest thing ever. He had a trampoline in his back yard. He had tattoos on his arms. He had a model of a sailing ship with millions of lines and riggings and other tiny details that endlessly fascinated me. And when we came to visit, he’d grab us up and yell “Gimme some of that sugar!” while he peppered us with kisses and tickled us with his scratchy beard. When I eventually got taller than he was, he’d tell me to plant a kiss on the top of his bald head (which for some reason cracked him up every time).

So I’ll miss him, but I’m not worried because I’ll see him again. When my time comes, I have no doubt he’ll meet me at the Pearly Gates, wrap me in a big bear hug and yell, “Gimme some of that sugar!” And I will...right on top of his head, like always.