As you probably all know my grandfather passed away last week. It was very devastating. It all started last Tuesday the 11th. My mom got a phone call,in the afternoon while we were swimming, from the hospital. They said my grandpa got into a serious accident. When we got there, they had decided to life flight him up north due to his injuries. He had brain trauma and his brain was swelling, broken femur, and several fracture ribs and broken ones that punctured both lungs. He was on a breathing machine when I saw him. His accident was in the news because he kind of stopped traffic on I-15 south right at the beginning of the Gorge. So all of my family left the night very late. I had to stay because I didn't have our truck and I had to start a new job on Friday. So I got to say my goodbyes in the ER before they took him. It was very hard for me because my grandpa and I always hit heads. So seeing this man who intimated me all my life, laying there broken and so fragile.
So the next two days were really hard. Harder than I thought it would be. But I was all by myself with my kids with no family and no husband. I called every two hours for those two days. Then on Thursday they told me that they had decided to take him of life support. And when they did he died within 5 minutes. The only man I knew as grandpa had passed away. I was very grateful when I got the news that I was with a very good friend and his wife. They made it seem okay. But that night was one of the longest nights of my life.
So, all my family came back on Friday and Saturday because they chose to have the viewing on Sunday and the funeral on Monday. Saturday well all went to Chuck-o-Rama in memory of my grandpa because he loved that place. And all of us wore on his shirts. He loved his wildlife animal shirts! We also just hung out and went through stuff of his and cried and laughed, watched home videos and so forth. We also colored eggs and did our traditional Easter Egg hunt. We do it at dark. So the kids have flash lights and hunt for the treasures in a park. Cash was so fun. He kept screaming, "EGGS!" He had a good time.
Sunday was Easter, of course. My kids woke up and started for the candy. Gabby loved to try to break the eggs open. We got ready and went to the viewing. It was really hard for me to walk by his body. I don't do well with corpses. The reason for it is that when I was 12, my sister and I found my other grandpa dead in his bed. Not a very good memory. So I have a hard time with the dead. It was a pleasant time with everyone there. My daughter got a lot of attention with her glasses. Cash and most of the other kids were in the nursery room. I forgot to mention that it was Ben and I's anniversary that day. Six long years for us! We didn't get to celebrate it and I am okay with that because it was not the time. So we are tonight.
Then Monday was the funeral. I had to work in the morning then I meet up with Ben and the kids at his moms house. The funeral was beautiful. I want to let one person know that his speech really touched me. Larry, when you said goodbye I lost it. I know where you come from and even know that it was not all fun and games with grandpa, he still has a huge impact on us. I love you Larry and Shannon. You mean so much to our little family. Thank you for all that you have done for us.
Anyways, my kids were the loudest and naughtiest of all the kids. Cash almost knocked the coffin over. Go figure! At the burial site they did a 21 gun solute and the folded the flag. It was really hard when they did that. Military funeral's are always harder for me. So we all put a flower on the grave for him. I also found out that day that my son has the chicken pox. Yay for me!
I just want to say that I loved my grandpa with all my heart! He made a difference in this world. And one thing that I will never forget was that he loved my children. And he was so happy and glowing when he saw my children. That made up all the hard times between him and I. He always kept bugging Ben to take him to Alaska. So I was planning a trip for those two to go.
Here is to you grandpa, a sunset in Alaska. I love you so very much. I will miss you. (My sister made a video of my grandpa that I can't top. Just click the Dockstader family.)
So the next two days were really hard. Harder than I thought it would be. But I was all by myself with my kids with no family and no husband. I called every two hours for those two days. Then on Thursday they told me that they had decided to take him of life support. And when they did he died within 5 minutes. The only man I knew as grandpa had passed away. I was very grateful when I got the news that I was with a very good friend and his wife. They made it seem okay. But that night was one of the longest nights of my life.
So, all my family came back on Friday and Saturday because they chose to have the viewing on Sunday and the funeral on Monday. Saturday well all went to Chuck-o-Rama in memory of my grandpa because he loved that place. And all of us wore on his shirts. He loved his wildlife animal shirts! We also just hung out and went through stuff of his and cried and laughed, watched home videos and so forth. We also colored eggs and did our traditional Easter Egg hunt. We do it at dark. So the kids have flash lights and hunt for the treasures in a park. Cash was so fun. He kept screaming, "EGGS!" He had a good time.
Sunday was Easter, of course. My kids woke up and started for the candy. Gabby loved to try to break the eggs open. We got ready and went to the viewing. It was really hard for me to walk by his body. I don't do well with corpses. The reason for it is that when I was 12, my sister and I found my other grandpa dead in his bed. Not a very good memory. So I have a hard time with the dead. It was a pleasant time with everyone there. My daughter got a lot of attention with her glasses. Cash and most of the other kids were in the nursery room. I forgot to mention that it was Ben and I's anniversary that day. Six long years for us! We didn't get to celebrate it and I am okay with that because it was not the time. So we are tonight.
Then Monday was the funeral. I had to work in the morning then I meet up with Ben and the kids at his moms house. The funeral was beautiful. I want to let one person know that his speech really touched me. Larry, when you said goodbye I lost it. I know where you come from and even know that it was not all fun and games with grandpa, he still has a huge impact on us. I love you Larry and Shannon. You mean so much to our little family. Thank you for all that you have done for us.
Anyways, my kids were the loudest and naughtiest of all the kids. Cash almost knocked the coffin over. Go figure! At the burial site they did a 21 gun solute and the folded the flag. It was really hard when they did that. Military funeral's are always harder for me. So we all put a flower on the grave for him. I also found out that day that my son has the chicken pox. Yay for me!
I just want to say that I loved my grandpa with all my heart! He made a difference in this world. And one thing that I will never forget was that he loved my children. And he was so happy and glowing when he saw my children. That made up all the hard times between him and I. He always kept bugging Ben to take him to Alaska. So I was planning a trip for those two to go.
Here is to you grandpa, a sunset in Alaska. I love you so very much. I will miss you. (My sister made a video of my grandpa that I can't top. Just click the Dockstader family.)
2 comments:
What a great tribute to your grandpa! I am so sorry for your loss! Sounds like you have alot of good memories to reflect on!
How sad Tasha! To be all alone when all of that was going on must have been really hard. I'm so sorry it all happened that way. Your grandpa died and three days later was his viewing...and it was on Easter! That is amazing. I love you Tasha, hope Cash is feeling better soon!
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