(no subject)
Today, I dyed my hair black. I did it while skipping my ECO class, no big deal; I wanted to do it for my grandfather. As the color was processing, my Grandfather was taken to the hospice section of Saint Joseph.
The day passed and I didn’t get any updates on him until I was closing up shop for my work. Brian called me, thank god. At that time, my Grandfather was slipping in and out of consciousness. Knowing it was our last chance all of my brothers dropped everything and rushed home. I didn’t finish closing. Oh well. I left money out.
We got there and his breathing was irregular. My aunts were crying.
My brothers and I surrounded the bed. He could hear us, but he couldn't talk. All he could do was breath and squeeze his hand. As his breathing changed, we told him how much we loved him, how much we respect him, how proud of him we are and how he is the best. We told him that we would take care of my Grandmother and the house and everything, no worries. We told him how much we loved his stories... just whatever came to our minds, we said.
I held his right hand. He squeezed as we talked. Slowly, his grip weakened. We finally said our goodbyes.
As we walked out the door... he died.
I wore his army jacket and told him. I told him about the insignias and how much I always wore it. How honored I was to have it and to be in the family. Golly, I don't know how I'm taking this.
For Christ's sake - I loved my grandfather to death. I held his hand as he died. He was a huge Catholic, so we all held his hand and said an ‘Our Father’.
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How ironic is it that when I dyed my hair, in his behalf mind you, that he would die the same day??? One of those weird signs.
In loving memory of Edward P. Joyce (Seventh Army Engineer) August 16th 1918 - February 28th 2007.
I know the process of him dieing really took it out of me. I know any that got to me was because of that... as in if I was spiteful against something, I was just taking it out on things. Now I can let go though. It's a relief in a way. No more suffering or anything.
Thanks shall get better.