New Year, New Experience

So, I have already missed my resolution of posting once per week. Last week was rather hectic and emotional and, due to lack of time and internet, I was unable to post.

Last week was so busy because my grandfather died and we all wanted to be up there with him. We received a call on Sunday night that he had had a stroke and was in a coma. My dad and brother drove up that night and my mom and I flew up Tuesday to be with my dad and his family. We packed out whole family into a tiny hospital room where Grandpa was lying and stayed with him as we talked about all of the memories we had. We were told that he could hear us, and so we kept conversation going constantly in hopes that it comforted him.

At one point, the nurses had to check on him and we had to leave the room. We weren't gone for more than a minute and he passed. It was almost as if once he couldn't hear us talking anymore, he decided that that was his time and he left the room with us. He passed peacefully and without suffering, and that is all we could have hoped for.

The week then proceeded with arrangements for the wake, funeral, and burial. My one job during this time was to make the centerpiece candles for the meal following the funeral. I felt that this would be my contribution and gift to him.

I have never seen a dead person or someone die, nor have I ever been to a wake or a funeral. The whole week was a new and overwhelming experience, but there was also so much beauty in certain aspects of it. The peacefulness of my grandpa, the eulogy given by my father and my uncle, the flowers we each placed on his coffin. Each of these were so beautiful and symbolic and made me remember the good times and memories with my grandpa.

While he will be dearly missed by everyone he has touched in his life, he will surely find peace and happiness in his eternal life.