A Bittersweet Good-bye

May 21, 2005

He had no idea I was going to take this picture. I told the photographer, "I want to give my grandfather a kiss can you capture it?" His response is real and genuine. My favorite picture.

 

 

 

 

My Pop passed away this morning. It is bitter sweet. He lived a beautiful long life and was only sick for the last 6 months and especially sick the last week of his life. He didn’t suffer pain this week, for this I am grateful. However, it is bitter because I will miss him.

He often made me laugh, he may have made me roll my eyes a time or two; he was a stubborn and opinionated man after all. And I say that with love.

My grandfather was indeed a family man. Family was important to him. He came to every grandparent day I had at school, every graduation, every play or musical I was in and just supported me.

I have a lifetime of memories of my Pop. After all he was a very prominent person in my life. However, my fondest memories of him will always be my college days. When I came to Utah for college I would get calls from him reporting my local weather. The calls particularly came when there was snow in the forecast (which was all winter long). He would say, “Jules, it is snowing in Utah today. How are you getting to class?” It always made me smile. It always made my day.

My Pop taught me many things. One of those was being proud of my heritage. He was a proud German. He was proud of his family, and the pride was passed on through the stories.  I loved my maiden name. It represented this heritage. How far my family had come. The sacrifice that was made so my life would be better. When I was married I had planned to change my name and take on Brad’s name. However, I didn’t realize how hard it was going to be for me. It meant so much to me. I changed it nevertheless, but there are a few documents that I have kept it on.

Pop also taught me endurance, whether it was listening to the same story for the 100^th time :) or completing a job thoroughly. He taught me hard work, all those spring-clean ups at the country. He taught me to value hard work, he compensated very very well. He taught me you can never have too much butter, and it makes everything and I mean everything better.

He was a lover of soups, msnbc, and driving.  He only bought American cars, and when I say that I mean only Fords. He detested raisins. His heart belonged to the Country.

My grandfather does not believe in life after death, he thinks death is the end; but I don’t. I know I will see him again. And I look forward to the day when I get to see the recording of him opening his eyes and realizing it isn’t the end and hear his reaction which I can only imagine is probably this, “Dammit to hell”.

I love you Pop. I will miss you greatly. Until we meet again, xoxo.

August 31, 2011