Good bye Great Grandpa

Today was a sad day but happy. My great grandpa died on Friday October 14 2011. I wasn't close to him and to tell you the truth I am not sure when the last time it was that I saw him. I just remember when I was a kid he would always go to my grandparents house and bring stuffed animals that he picked up somewhere. They usually looked ratted and old (I honestly think he got them out of the garbage), but it was always the thought the count. As he got older I remember he had a hard time hearing so after awhile you just stopped talking because he never knew what you were saying. Or at least that was how it was with me because I had a quiet voice. Today in the memorial service they talked about how he would visit the old people in the nursing home (he was 80) and hand out snickers until they said he couldn't anymore. Then he started to hand out bananas. What a great man, to always visit the elderly and actually care and love them. To always make an effort to bring someone a gift even if it was out of the garbage. Even though I didn't know my great grandpa that well I can learn from his example of always loving and giving.

It is amazing how families work. Today I found out that my grandpa has three brothers and a sister still alive. All this time I only thought my grandpa had one brother. Why is it that most of the time families get together because of a death or wedding?? I wish that there was a family reunion every year or two years. It's amazing how much family you still have alive that you just didn't know you had. I know it is hard but it would be nice to stay in touch with family. I think of my husbands family and how many cousins he has that he doesn't really keep in touch with them and then I have my family with my very few cousins and I think we keep in contact well.

Today watching my grandpa cry as my mom hugged him was hard. I have spent every summer with my grandparents from age 2-17. I have never ever seen my grandpa cry before. My family is kind of the family who doesn't show a whole lot of emotion (I must be the odd ball). Sometimes I think they think they are stronger than they are. Everyone knows that we all have emotions. Studies have shown that it is good to cry once and awhile. It was amazing and sad at the same time to see someone you LOVE so much start to cry. You never know what they are really feeling because they don't really talk about their feelings. I couldn't imagine losing my dad or even my grandpa. That would be one of the hardest things. I love my family so much and I am glad to be so close to them.