Adventures of the Traveling Grief Case

Reflections of a grandson

Today is Valentine’s Day. But more importantly, it’s my son’s birthday. My son shared his birthday with his Grandpa Bruce. (pictured on the right).

My son loved both his grandpas and had a special relationship with each of them. He also lost both of them within less than 2 months. They were two very different men, with one thing in common, a love for their grandson.

He also spent a lot more time with my dad because we lived with him for many years. I always hated the fact that I was in my 30’s and living at home with my parents. As a single mom, it was always great to have the extra help and reduced rate rent.

It wasn’t until my dad passed away that I was really able to see the value. I could finally appreciate all those years spent with family.

But what I was truly grateful for was that fact that my son grew up with my parents so close. He had developed strong relationships with both his grandparents.

He always had his father in his life, but even his father was thankful that my son had his grandfather close by. He too loved and respected my father.

Dad spent countless hours driving my son to a friend’s house or sports practice. And there were plenty of days he got my son off the bus after school. He played a key role in my son’s life.

I could tell you all the ways he made an impact on my son’s life, but no one could tell you better than my son.

When dad passed away, we had a memorial service for him. Everyone had an opportunity to share a memory or kind word. But my son’s words were the ones that shook the room.

I thought I would share them with you.

Anyone who knows me really well or knows my grandpa well, knows how close I was with him. I lived with him since the day I was born until I was 13. He was a huge part of my life. Everyone knows he had a great sense of humor. He was always super funny. He always knew how to make everybody laugh.

One of the things that he used to say,

that used to make me laugh all the time,

was he always used to tell me I was always good at everything.

Everything I did, he said I was good at it.

I’d be singing in the shower and I’d come out of shower.

He would say, “You’re a good singer, you should get on American Idol. You’re really good at that.”

I’d think what are you talking about?

I’d be dancing around the house being stupid and he’d say,

“You’re a good dancer.”

“You should dance.” 

I just kind of laughed when I was younger.

I thought it was him being funny. 

As I got older, I started to realize that he wasn’t joking.

He genuinely meant everything that he said.

I was just talking to my dad a couple weeks ago and he said it perfectly.

He said my grandpa knew how to make you feel important.

And I wouldn’t be half the person I was today, if it weren’t for him. 

These words were transcribed from the video of my father’s memorial service. This is the actual video clip.

Sometimes we don’t realize the impact we leave on the ones we have left behind. The future generations. But love can be one of the greatest.

“Love is the greatest gift that one generation can leave another.” – Richard Garnett