Most people will often say that some of their fondest childhood memories were from their grandparents. Many more of them are lucky enough to have grandmas and grandpas who lived long enough to see them get married. Sadly, I was not one of those people. My grandpa left this world far too early.
Now, my memories of you are starting to fade, but I don’t want to let myself forget you. So, I’m writing to the grandpa who was taken away much too soon.
I Never Thought You’d Leave
It’s silly, but a part of me always thought that you’d be here forever. You were going to stay with me and see me graduate from university and start a career. You would be there when I had kids and would get to watch them grow up.
It’s a sad fact of life that no one can live forever, but somewhere in my mind, I thought you would. I believed that you were completely invincible and that nothing could ever tear you away from me. Those thoughts were naïve, and I realized that when you were gone.
You Shouldn’t Have Gone The Way That You Did
If everyone has to die, then people should only die of old age. In a perfect world, that would be true. However, we don’t live in a perfect world and things happen that are out of our control. You didn’t leave us because of old age and I wish it had of been different.
When I heard the news of what had happened to you, my heart shattered into a million pieces. It was so unexpected and so devastating that even at my young age I understood what was happening. You were gone from my life forever.
As a child, I never worried about losing family members. Since your death, I’ve become more cautious. I check up on the people that I love throughout the day and make sure to never leave a conversation unfinished. Your death has made me realize that life is precious and that we can never take someone for granted.
You’re Still With Me
Although you may not be here physically, some part of you is still near me. I have my memories of you to keep me company when I feel most alone. In times like those, I think of you sitting in your chair and telling me stories. I think of your warm laugh whenever I told you a joke which probably wasn’t even that funny.
Most of all, I think of the love that you gave me unconditionally.
It’s the little things that remind me of you the most. If I see a football game on TV it reminds me of how much you’d love to watch the game with me by your side. Hearing Elvis on the radio makes me think of your love of music, and how you’d share that with me. These little things make me miss you terribly, but they also bring me more joy than you can imagine.
To the grandpa who left too soon, thank you. Thank you for bringing so much joy to my childhood and thank you for the time that we spent together. You were the best grandpa that I could have ever asked for. Now, I’m just going to wait and hope for the day that I see you again so that I can hug you one more time.
Share this article with someone who’s lost their grandpa to remind them that he’s still with them.
