So yesterday it has been 5 years since my Grandpa (my mom's dad) passed away. It's been a really hard 5 years without him. Not being able to talk to him or hug him. It's tough! He had some type of cancer. The doctors never found out what type and that was harder so we knew it was coming but it was still really hard when I found out he died. I wrote a paper on him for one of my classes a couple years ago. I wanted to share it. :)
When I think of a Best Friend I think of patience, always being there for you, someone who I think you can always trust, someone who you can talk to all of the time, someone who gives you a big bear hug and assures you everything is going to be ok. All of these are what I like to describe my best friend who has recently passed on, my wonderful grandpa.
My Grandpa was and what I still like to say, one of my Best Friends, he knew when you were feeling down and he could always make anyone laugh or smile, even though he didn’t know you were feeling down or upset, he always found a way to make you feel happy again.
When I found out he died, I was crushed. I didn’t know if I would ever feel happy again or be the same happy bubbly self that everyone loves me as. I just wanted to crawl into a hole and be sad all my life. I’ve learned that it was his time to go and I just have to accept that he’s gone, even though I didn’t like it at first, but I know he is looking down and is proud of how far I have come and succeeded in school so far.
Before he found out he was sick, all my family went to Bear Lake to go boating, swimming, anything that was water, we loved to do, now that he’s not here we rarely go anymore and I miss it. We would always go to Bear Lake and go to the beach and water ski, and go tubing. It was so much fun to always go there and just be there with my family and get to know them a lot better.
When he found out he was sick, he didn’t let that stop him from moping around and feeling sorry for himself. He did the things he loved to do, he didn’t let his sickness stop him from doing the things he loved. Going to his grandkid’s games or events even if it was a long drive, he always found time to be there and cheer us on, and even if he didn’t go he always made sure to call us and find out what had happened.
It all started in September of 2002, something was wrong with his blood, he kept getting clots and everything felt wrong, he didn’t feel good, he felt sick, he went to the doctors and they found out it was a blood clot and a form of cancer but it seems that the doctors never really got to researching it. It was sad seeing him on some days where he just had to sit and relax and he wasn’t himself. I hated seeing him like that.
When I was younger, I didn’t think of him as a best friend at all. In fact, I thought he was scary looking because he was so big around the middle, then one day he took me shopping for clothes and ever since then we have been closer than I have ever felt closer to anyone else in my life.
The thing I miss the most about him are his hugs. He gave the best hugs, he gave them just right. Tight enough that he made you safe but soft enough that he wouldn’t strangle you. I loved his hugs. No one can replace his hugs, even if they tried.
Whenever I needed to talk to someone, he was always there, even if he was just a phone call away. He always made me feel like I was the most important person along with my other siblings and parents.
I have learned from my grandpa that even if you are “sick” and want to give up on life you must go on and try your hardest to be successful in school or life. I want to thank my grandpa for always being there for me and teaching me how to be a great person.
