Sunday, November 23, 2008
Firefly Life
Yesterday, the Matron and her husband took the children to spend some time with Grandpa Dan (John's stepfather) who is dying of liver cancer.
He'll be 83 in December. As Garrison Keillor says in his movie: "The death of an old man is not a tragedy."
But it's difficult to see a life, ending.
Grandpa Dan spends his time watching Country Music videos from the 1950s and 60s. He's a World War II vet with a wall full of medals, some of them for valor during ground combat in France.
Hand to hand ground combat. The Matron can only imagine the horror of that. In 17 years, she has never once heard him talk about the war.
Yesterday was no exception.
She sat and watched videos with him for a solid hour. Mostly, in silence. Just taking in people who passed before us on this planet, already, ---acutely aware that Grandpa will be gone soon, and someday she will be leaving, too.
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16 comments:
a beautiful title for this post.
That's the song I danced to with my dad at my wedding. It's sort of our theme song....for obvious reasons. :)
I just hope I go wherever Patsy Cline is.
WWII veterans - a breed apart. I never pass up a chance to shake their hands and say "thank you"
...more than words can say.
H
x
I love that quote, but I appreciate that it's said with a certain sadness. I know you're documenting every memory in a safe place.
How lucky for you all that he's still here. All my grandparents were gone before I was 20. I still miss them and wish they'd been able to see these beautiful children I have. But, you know, I bet they've seen them anyway.
Sitting in silence can be very conforting.
Well written.
Old people, like babies, are, for lack of a better word, treasures. I sound silly, even to myself, but they're precious, fleeting times.
Pearl
I'm sure that hour meant so much to both of you.
There are horrors and secrets (of war) that we cannot even imagine keeping.
My grandpa was actively dying when the Prairie Home Companion movie came out. I saw it with my brother. And although that line is very true, it made both of us weep.
I wish peace to you and your family.
You're all in my thoughts.
It is so hard the leavetaking but something we all must face. I will keep you in my prayers and I to hope to go whereever Pasty Cline is too.Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Patsy is my hero. Love her sound.
garrison keillor is flat-out wrong.
That song is my all time favourite country song. That Patsy sure can sing a love ballad.
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