Gone but not forgotten - Grandpa

This post is somewhat delayed because the internet was down and I wasn't about to try typing my thoughts and feelings for a blog post using my iPhone....way too many tears for that = way too many typographical errors.  That being said, it has been an emotional week for me and the family as we remembered all too well the events of a year ago.  The loss is fresh and hits me/us throughout the year, in random memories, in conversations, in sights and smells, in general.  Losing Grandma to cancer was tough.  Losing Grandpa less than a week later to the same dreaded beast of a disease was tough on us as well.  Yet, there was some measure of comfort too, because they had been married and joined as one since 1955.  Therefore, God calling them to our eternal home in a short time period almost made sense in a tragic but romantic way.  The combined memorial service was a fitting tribute to the lives of two special individuals who were a wonderful example of unity in Christ. 

So here are some of the things I remember about Grandpa:

• his inability to tell me no directly; instead, he would say, "Go ask your mother/grandmother" because they never had trouble telling me no.
• his patriotism, from his military career (go Army!) to DC government service to civic duty, and this made a lasting impression on my level of respect for those who serve and protect and emphasized the serious responsibility we have in exercising our voting privileges
• his territorial remarks when it came to the recliner
• his willingness to get up and get it done, with long work hours, commutes to the office, home improvement and maintenance projects, etc.
• his silly faces, captured in many pictures, but missed in so many others, and often times prompting much laughter because Grandma never seemed to catch him being silly in those moments
• his methods of bribery on Saturday mornings to get us awake and helping with household chores when I spent summers with them in Northern Virginia - anybody else remember how his "variety" boxes from Dunkin' Donuts always seemed to have OUR favorites? (apple filled yummy goodness for me...I can taste it now!)
• his many lessons on professionalism and the example he provided in that regard
• his technology skills and goodies like the AOL jacket and legal pads
• how he is the only accountant proxy to ever file my tax return and justify a well-deserved refund because he knew all the right deductions based on my life/reality without some extended interview process
• his extensive DVD collection and willingness to play media librarian with even the new releases, but it also reminds me of his eclectic taste in television and movies
• his love of cashews and candy
• his love of family
• his fear of holding babies that rivals my own
• his willingness to be my patient when he had need of my EMT skills and knowledge
• his passion for reading and talking about the good books and warning me away from the not so good books
• his manly house slippers
• his spirited debates with me about political issues, campaigns, candidates, elected officials, etc. and all things government or legal, and his encouraging me to do more than just "cancel out his vote" which to this day I couldn't tell you if he was kidding or serious about how he was voting and who
• his desire to provide gifts for all of his loved ones on special occasions
• his fondness for coconut and chess pies, and bravery in trying my first attempts at both back in the day
• his enjoyment of fishing on the Shenandoah River (I think that's where we were?!) and then the Davis pond in his retirement years
• his calming presence and influence
• his loyalty
• his pride
• his lasting imprint on the lives of family and friends, me included

Yes, Grandpa was one of the good guys, gone too soon in my opinion.   I remember all these great things though.  It eases some of the guilt I have in telling him we were just taking him for a quick ambulance ride to Farmville when in actuality, we were transporting him there for transfer to Lynchburg with input from his doctors and the hospice staff.  It also makes the grief come and go with these flashes of such precious memories.  Finally, it makes me proud to have been his granddaughter, taking the time to share so much with him over the years which only benefits me in the long run, and the wonderful news that this earthly adventure is not the end for us Christians.  Till heaven's reunion, all my love and gratitude for Grandpa....