C'est finis

First I would like to say thank you. A thousand times thank you to all of you who have supported me, distracted me and shared your experiences with me. My grandfather passed away today. He was eighty one years old but nobody at the hospital could believe that I was his granddaughter. They all thought I was his daughter. My grandfather was a gentleman. I never once in my life heard him swear, even when I chopped off my toe. I can tell you my grandmother swore a lot-at him! My mother once said that he never said he loved her. I thought about that over the years, and while my grandfather never once told me he loved me I simply knew it. I knew it every time he checked my oil, helped me move (I can't even count the number of times he showed up with his big diesel pick up to help me move), took me for a boat ride, advised me on something mechanical that I had no clue about or simply told me I was an idiot for getting in a car accident (his way of saying I love you). There really was no need because he always tried to help me in his own way and I knew I was his favorite grandchild. I mean really, how could I not be?!

So, it is with an aching heart that I say farewell to a man who was honorable, loyal, respectful and oh so kind. He also could be a ridiculously stubborn s.o.b., but heh, where do you think I get it from?!

I am grateful to have had him in my life for so long and so very grateful to have you as my friends. I am also terribly glad that many of you had the opportunity to take a boat ride with him.