So, a lot has happened...
My Grandfather passed away in his home on February 3, 2018 at 5:30 pm. I was very close to my Grandfather, just like Avril Lavigne was close to hers.
Avril Lavigne even wrote a song and dedicated it to her Grandfather, "Slipped Away". On her "Try To Shut Me Up" tour, she found out that her Grandfather passed away. She almost cancelled the tour but didn't. She said that the show goes out to her Grandfather who passed away. And she started with the song, "Tomorrow".
*The following what I'm about to share, are my memories that I have of my Grandfather and wanted to share them with you guys.*
My Grandfather meant everything to me. He was always there for me and he even opened up his home to my Mother, my brothers and I when we had nowhere else to go. He had a very kind soul and always had a willing ear to listen to.
I remember over the years of spending time in the kitchen with him cooking, and because of that, I became my family's taste tester in food. When my Grandfather asked me how is it, I respond with, "Its good" and he said, "I'm a good crook huh." I said laughing, "Yes, Grandpa, your a good crook." We just both laughed at that. I would always help him in the kitchen with varies foods that he would always make. From his homemade sausage, wine, apple cider to his German deserts.
By the time I turned 12, he taught me how to drive. Even though I was only 12 at the time, he said that it was for emergencies only. In case if something where to happened, I would know what to do. We would always go off-roading in his dinky little car. One day we actually got stuck, thank God that my Grandfather had a shovel in his trunk to dig us out. I'm not sure why he had a shovel in his trunk but I'm glad that he did or we would have been stuck and nobody would know where we were.
My Mother would discipline my brothers and I and my Grandfather would just spoil us, like all Grandmothers and Grandfathers in the world. My younger brother and I would always fight over the front seat and I remember my Grandfather saying, "The better person sits in the back". I don't know how my Grandfather put up with my younger brother and I when we fought like cats and dogs. There was a couple of occasions that he would yell at us. I guess we just got on his nervous or just got tired of hearing my brother and I fight. My Grandfather, Mother, Uncle, Aunt, older brother and cousin always had to play referee in the great battle of brother vs. sister.
I always thought, that he would live forever because of his strength and health. I would never have thought that his day would actually come to pass. However, it did. All I have are the memories that I shared with my Grandfather over the years. He was an amazing human being and did so much for his family. And just knowing how brave he was what he did to survive when he was younger is just phenomenal. However, I never knew nothing of his past and what he did. But he did survive from all he went through and because of that, we are all survivors.
I am blessed to have had him in my life and have him as my Grandfather. A sweet, gentle, kind, passionate, generous and protective human being.
And I know that when its my time, he will be there waiting for me.
