the crabby one

My grandpa passed away this morning.  He has been through more illness in the last 20 years than any person should have made it through - heart attack, multiple bouts with cancer, and a stroke 2 years ago.  I think he survived it all because he was just that stubborn.

He was an incredible man.  He was still working well into his 80’s until the stroke happened.  He was super intelligent, and loved his family fiercely.  He and my grandma always had an open house and open hearts to anyone and everyone.  They taught me so much about how to live life fully.  Anyone who met them knows that they stayed young at heart throughout their whole lives.  My brother always said that they were teenagers trapped in old bodies.  He was always interested in our lives, and was so supportive and encouraging.

There are so many sayings and mannerisms he had that will live on in our family.  One of the most memorable grandpa moments ever was when he was playing pinochle (a family pasttime).  If you don’t know how to play, it’s a partner-based game where one partner calls a suit that is trump.  Their partner will pass them three cards to try to improve their hand, and then the caller passes back three cards.  My dad had called hearts as trump, and grandpa was his partner.  Dad picked up his three cards, and stared at the first one like it was an alien.  He shows it to everyone and stares questioningly at grandpa.  It was a 9 of clubs.  That is THE crappiest card that he could have given him (9 is the lowest card in pinochle).  Grandpa explained that he didn’t want to break up some points that he had in his hand.  I think almost every time we play now, we don’t make it through the game without someone making a 9 of clubs crack. At the wake, I’m totally going to bring a deck of cards and slip the 9 of clubs into his casket.

I think back and am so grateful that my grandparents were able to make it to our wedding, and that I danced a polka with grandpa.  I’m sad for my brother that he won’t be there for his wedding.  My heart breaks for grandma that he’s gone.  They were married for 54 years.  Please say some prayers for her and the rest of the family.  Even though we knew this was coming, his passing happened really quickly.  I know that I’m kicking myself for not making a trip down there, but I thought I had more time.  I’m sure others are thinking the same thing.  I will miss him terribly, but knowing that he’s watching out for all of us from heaven just the way he did in life gives me some peace.

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