Bad News

Yesterday at about one thirty in the afternoon my Uncle Allen called my family and I from Scotland telling us that my grandfather has passed away. I suppose it's the way things are and always will be, but we all thought that Ol' Dan would live forever. I always pictured him sitting in the front row at my wedding, holding my children, telling them corny jokes and teaching them everything bout World War II, and the Rangers.

I think the things about him I will remember the most are his harmonica and his farm hat. There is no one in the world like him and the family is going to be a lot quieter with him gone, and I hate that. My only regret was that I couldn't say goodbye, the best I could have done was call him and say "I love you" My Uncle Allen said he smiled, so somewhere past the Alzheimer's that took his memories of his family, he must have remembered me. Everyone said that Connor and I were his favorite grandchildren, probably because of our California accents and bleach blonde hair. I just wish I was around more, and even though the bond between my grandfather and I was so strong, I can't help but feel guilty of my absence.

When I saw him this summer while I was on my trip to Scotland by myself I lay in his bed with him as we watched the Rangers defeat the Celtics. That's the last time I saw him, I'll always remember the image of him crying as I walked in the front door the first time that summer, that and the look on his face when I got on the plain to go back to California. Somehow I think he knew that that would be the last time I saw him.

I saw my father cry for the first time yesterday, My mother was our rock, but I don't think it truly phased Connor, for he showed no true sign of remorse. But I don't blame him, the last time he saw Ol' Dan was two years ago. Connor was always closer to my Grandmother. But I know Connor will miss Grandpa. The first song I heard after he passes away was "Dream On" by Aerosmith. I don't think my father and I will ever forget that song.

We're getting on a plain for Scotland at four in the morning tomorrow, and my grandfathers' funeral is on Thursday. I'm expecting this week to be that hardest of my life, I'm only glad that I get to spent it in the company of my family, after all, that's how Ol' Dan would have wanted his life to be celebrated...