Late this morning I got the news that my Grandpa Ron had passed away. He’d been battling cancer for a while, and we knew this day was approaching. But knowing that it’s coming does nothing to alleviate the deep grief that comes with actually losing the person. It’s wretched and painful and only made worse by the knowledge that he’d probably be ticked off we were all so sad.
Because he lived so far away, I wasn’t able to see him before he died. But I did sit down and record a video for him. I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to sum up a lifetime of feelings into a 3 minute video, but it’s not easy.
I told him about how when I was a kid, I saw him the way a lot of kids see their grandparents, as something larger than life. I thought he was the coolest. He was adventurous and smart and strong – someone who really lived. But then I got older, and it never changed. Because I wasn’t only seeing him through those little kid goggles back then. He really was all those things.
And I got to thank him for being such a shining example of how a person is supposed to live. I got to tell him that not everyone gets someone like him in their life, and that I’ll always feel blessed to have gotten the gift of him.
I asked my mom to send me some pictures of the two of us, and she sent me exactly what I would have chosen if I’d been looking myself. This is the way I’ll always remember him.
So today I say farewell to an incredible man, my Grandpa Ron. I’ll miss you.
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sorry for your loss…before my grandpa passed he kept telling us not to be sad and don’t cry. but even when you know it is coming, it isn’t easier. i’m thinking of you and your family.
I’m so sorry for your loss 🙁
I’m so very sorry for your loss. Thinking of you all.
So sorry for your loss. May your Grandpa Ron rest in peace.
Again I say so sorry for your loss Trish! We lost our Granny almost two years ago now… Time heals wounds, but it still hurts. Happy thoughts coming your way!
Sorry for your loss. He sounds like a cool guy that lived his life on his own terms.
I’m so sorry to hear about your grandpa. Sending lots of hugs your way! xoxo
Sorry for your loss, having lost my grandma (unexpectedly) at the beginning of the month I understand how you feel. Mourning is an odd thing. Some weeks I am strong and can talk about her with dabbing away a single tear and other days I can’t even say her name. Love the video idea but can’t imagine how you got through it!
What a beautiful tribute. How blessed you were to have such a wonderful person in your life. I’m so sorry for your loss. May the joyful memories quickly outnumber the painful moments.
I am so sorry for your loss. I think it’s great you got to tell him how you felt about him before he passed. I had this opportunity with my stepdad. It did not make the grief any easier, but I have a sense of closure because of certain things I had the chance to say. Happy SITS day.
That was beautiful, Trish. I love the idea of sending him a video. We live 1600 miles away from our families and I’ve always hated the idea of being so far away if anything were to happen. Sending a big hug to a fellow SITS girl.
That’s awesome! My grandma was larger than life too. I also lost her a while back and the hole’s still there. Blessings to you. Popped in from SITS.
I’m very sorry for your loss. I live far away from my grandpa too. He’s the greatest!