I knew things were going to change when I left home to come to Japan. Things inevitably change, even if you’re not there to watch them, and not being there makes those changes seem more drastic. When I left, Cody had just started grade school. Now he’s reading and writing. Thayer was just learning to crawl, and now he’s walking and talking up a storm. And my grandfather is gone.
I’ve been putting off writing this because I don’t really want to think about it. I’ve been coming up with a thousand ways to keep myself busy. I’ve got a stack of about 50 photos to sort through from my girlfriend’s dance rehearsal, eventually to post a few here. Even as I type this at work I find myself avoiding the issue, trying to look for other things to do. I’ve been trying to think of the right thing to say, and it’s just not coming to mind. I can’t even think straight, and I haven’t slept well in a week, so I’ll just post what I already wrote in an email to Mom and Dad last week.
The story that always comes to mind when I think of Grandpa is from when we were all off in Willcox one time picking vegetables. Of course being a kid I’d eat every other green bean we picked, and got the third degree from Mom and Grandma. But Grandpa just kinda winked at me and we both kept eating them anyway right off the vine, along with the bell peppers. I also remember a time when G&G had a little vegetable patch in their back yard and grew these tiny little red radishes; they were the most astringent little suckers but Grandpa seemed to love eating them anyway. That and grapefruits from their tree, which I always thought were too sour but Grandpa always ate with gusto.
It’s sad to know that he’s gone, but you will always have those precious memories. My grandfather (my mom’s dad) died my first year at Santa Rita when I was 26 just as we were about to start classes for the year. I have fond memories of him and also my other grandparents that I still refer to in my mind now and then. My thoughts and prayers are with you, Jeff!