got the word this morning at work that my grandfather died last night in his sleep. i was at work and since my dad did not have his cel phone on i was the one who had to go find him (we both work for GM in the same plant) and tell him his dad just died . i was NOT looking forward to that. i did'nt know what to expect. well, lucky for me by the time i got someone to relieve me from my job and i tracked down my dad he had gotten his messages from my uncle and had already talked to him, my grandmother and my mom. so heknew i i did'nt have to tell him. he seemed in a completely normal mood, as i should have expected. my dad has always been much more in control of his emotions than the rest of us. the reality of it all has'nt completely sunk in for me. still, i know it will be MUCH harder on my cousins and relatives that live down there and saw him everyday. i saw him once a year if that. hell, he made it to 71 which is longer than anyone thought he would make it. let this be a lesson to you smokers out there. he smoked off and on till about 16 years ago when he had his first heart attach and open heart surgery. he had 2 or 3 more open heart surgerys after that and from what i understand that is NOT a pleseant thing to go through. well, for the past several years he has had to breath with the aid of an oxygen bottle and rode in a motorized wheel chair cause he just did'nt have the energy to walk much. still, he was completely mentaly with it which i am glad for and i hope i am still "all there" up stairs when i get near the end of life. he was'nt suppose to drink but still everytime i would see him he would be sneaking a beer when my grandma was'nt looking. at my dad's cousin's funeral about 4 years ago thee was a luncheon at the VFW hall after the funeral. he grabbed me and said "there is a bar down stairs. lets go get some beers while grandma is'nt looking" so me and him are off to the bar. we had'nt finished out first beer when my brother found us, then my other brother and then my dad and uncle. but grandma is no fool. she knew where he was the whole time. another time, last March (the last time i saw him) they came up to surprise my dad for his 50th birthday party. i had to run to town for something and grandpa rolled up beside me in his powered wheelchair, slipped me a 20 and told me to pick up some Jim Beam. i had more than enough for a 5th but i knew i did'nt want to get my *** in a wringer so i only bought a pint, which was more than enough to get us both a little "buzzed" when mixed in with our Pepsi. here's to you gramps!! i'm sad but happy too. he lead a very full life and even though i never got to spend alot of time with the stuborne old cuss he was surrounded by lots of people who loved him his whole life. i do treasure the time i did have with him though and he was always excited when i would email him pics of the projects i was workin on. he was a good man. not a perfect man, but a good man. i'm not looking for sympathy, though i know you will all be sympathetic. yer just great people like that. the point of this was actually to see if any HAMBers near Bradenton Florida would be interested in grabbin a beer. if i have the time that is. i'm riding down with my family so i will not have my own transportation. also if someone has something they need brought back up from that area let me know. PM CherryBlossom for my cell phone number and leave me a message if i do not answer. i don't know what the schedule of events is and i don't know when we will be back, but it will be before Monday cause me and my brothers have to be back to work. mom and dad will stay a couple weeks, i'm sure.
Hi Mate, My sympathy goes out to you and your family during this tough time. Lifes all about the relationships you have with people and nothing is more important then the relationships you have with your loved ones. Danny
I'm so sorry about your grandpa. I just lost mine this past Summer. My condolences to you and your family.
[ QUOTE ] hell, he made it to 71 which is longer than anyone thought he would make it. let this be a lesson to you smokers out there. he smoked off and on till about 16 years ago when he had his first heart attach and open heart surgery. he had 2 or 3 more open heart surgerys after that and from what i understand that is NOT a pleseant thing to go through. [/ QUOTE ] SMOKING Kills............ <font color="red"> PLEASE QUIT </font> if you have anyone you care about. Buried my Father 10 days ago. He smoked. <font color="black"> LUNG CANCER killed him. </font>
Sorry to hear it brother. If you are going to be in Orlando or Daytona at all, let me know, I am here for the winter it appears.
[ QUOTE ] Sorry to hear it brother. If you are going to be in Orlando or Daytona at all, let me know, I am here for the winter it appears. [/ QUOTE ] He won't be anywhere near there this trip...
sound like he was a lucky man with family like that. celebrate his life, you will always have the good memories. jerry
I'm so sorry to hear it, man. I wish my dad would quit. He picked it up in the Air Force back in the sixties and hasn't been able to kick it.
I feel for ya Mike, I lost my grandpa last May, about 3 months after he lost his wife (my grandma), it ****s and it didn't sink in until the funeral, even though I was at the hospital when he died. It's gonna ****, but from what you said, I'm sure he's want to have a beer (or a Beam and Pepsi) in his honor. I'll PM CherryBlossom with my number (I'm off all this week) and we'll have a beer, you'll only about an hour south of me in Bradenton.
Mike, Glad you have good memories...that we are all just human, our frailities are just that. It's always tough to lose them though. Hang in pal! Thinking about you and yours, Charlie
My thoughts are with you and your family and friends during this sad time Kustombuilder. A sad time yes, but so many wonderful memories will be shared, be they good or bad they will all be special. Take care mate. Geoff aka Whodaky
Geez Mike, I'm sorry. Kind of know what you mean though. I lost my Grandma this last year and while it was sad, things had gotten really bad for her. We all thought it was a relief for her to rest, finally. I'm sure your Grandpa was a cool Dude and he'll never be gone as long as you remember the times you had with him. Have a safe trip Dude!
[ QUOTE ] SMOKING Kills............ <font color="red"> PLEASE QUIT </font> if you have anyone you care about. Buried my Father 10 days ago. He smoked. <font color="black"> LUNG CANCER killed him. </font> [/ QUOTE ] Here here, my Dad died in September, 5 weeks after being diagnosed with the same..... kustombuilder, I am sorry to hear of your familys loss, my thoughts are with you. Dave
Sobering news, Mike. I know what you are going through, losing my Parents and grand parents. Hang in there, the memories will stay with you for a long time. Time is kind as it helps to foster the good memories. Jim
Mike - Really sorry to hear that. I know how you feel, and it ****s, but also celebrate his life and honor him, tell your dad you love him. My thoughts and prayers are with you, and be safe on your way down! Jim
Sorry to hear of his p***ing. My gandfather died of a heart attack (age 77) while playing cards and drinking gin one afternoon. Just that morning, he went fishing and caught the biggest fish he'd ever reeled in. What a way to go. Hope I am so lucky.
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