About a week after I took part 2 of the qualifier, I got the call that my grandfather had passed away. He and I had always been buddies. He was the last of my mother's parents to go. The two people who were my best family. I made a quick flight. I avoided the 5 am flight and took one a little later. When we got to the nursing home the staff had just discovered he was dead. I walked into the room. He was laying on the bed stuck in a position that looked as if he had been shocked. His beautiful blue eyes were now black. I tried to say goodbye, but all I could do was cry. The funeral was a disaster. My mom and her older brother had a horrible fight. He looked like he was going to hit her and then threatened to call a lawyer. I can't remember why.
I had only made plans to stay home a week. My advisor was being nice letting me go that long. Not only did I have to find out about the qualifier, but they had signed me for a conference on research that I hadn't even started. Mom wanted me to stay and go to Seaside. That would have been nice, but I had to go back. Failing out wouldn't bring grandpa back. I still cry when I tell the story of how I found him. I will always miss him. But he would have been more proud of me for staying in school than entertaining my mother. R.I.P. Grandma and Grandpa
(Title: Hear You Me, Jimmy Eat World)
No comments:
Post a Comment