This morning the world lost a very kind man that always put his family
first and taught them by example. Heaven, I'm sure got even happier.
My grandpa was a good man that I always knew loved me. My mom was
married, had 2 kids, after 13 years divorced our biological father and a
few years later married the man that adopted us and raised us as his
own. He was 21, my mom 32. I'm sure, as his dad, it wasn't easy to
accept this and to welcome 2 grandkids that were older than his other
grandkids he'd known since their birth. I've been thinking a lot about
grandpa the past few weeks, not knowing of his declining health and kept
brushing away the thoughts to call him and say hi. What I've been
thinking about is the way he loved his family and how devoted he was to
my grandma and the similarities between my grandpa and my dad. There are
so many and I'm so touched by many of these similarities.
My
grandpa told me yesterday between pained breaths and a very weak, quiet
voice that grandma is 88 and he was 83. I'd forgotten he was younger
than she was. A few similarites are these: Grandpa married a divorced
woman with 3 children, he was younger than she was, he adopted those 3
kids and raised them as his own, he worked hard to provide for his
family. My dad married mom, adopted us, raised us and worked hard for us
and fearlessly protected us. I think those are the similarities that
struck me the hardest as I sat holding my grandpa's hand yesterday.
I believe I have the life I have in large part due to my grandpa.
My mom had a very different social life than she did before she met my
dad and grandparents. He raised a boy that would follow his example and
do his best to give us a good life and make sure we did better than he
did. He raised a boy that valued education so much so that attending
college was an expectation, not a choice. He taught my dad how to treat
his wife, love her children, work hard and to always put his family
first. He helped my mom and dad find God.
My dad loved my
grandpa so much that when he was little, he once put ketchup on his hair
to try to dye it red so he could be just like grandpa. The red didn't
stay very long but it did give him his life long nickname of "Rusty."
Because of my grandpa I married a man that feels, loves, protects
and works just like he did and like his son did. Because of my grandpa
(and several others in our family) I have a respect for our military
service men and women. Because of grandpa my family and extended family
is better for having him in our lives.
Grandpa is the 4th
close relative I've lost in October. (mom, dad, my Uncle Jim and now
grandpa Bell) I still love the month of October. My mom hated it because
it was a reminder of people she'd lost. I choose to stay positive and
happy about this season...season in nature and season in life.
As the trees lose their leaves this month, I'm reminded of the loved
ones I've lost. However, I'm also reminded as I hear kids' laughter
fill the air while they jump in those fallen leaves, that each fallen
leaf is a blessing and adds to the joy they've given both on the trees
and off, just as all those that have gone before me. Their lives and
those memories are a blessing to be celebrated and remembered.
RIP Grandpa Bell. We love you and thank you for being the man you were.
