RIP to The Best Gramp Ever

Our four generations journey has come to end. My grandfather passed earlier this morning and wouldn’t you know it, between 3:15 and 3:55 am he called it quits. My grandfather was a dairy farmer for a lot of his life and he woke up every morning, around 3:30 am to milk the cows and head to work. He continued that ritual until he took his last breath. My grandfather was a huge part of my blog since the day it started over 7 years ago and he loved every single second of the selfies, the pictures I took of him, the road trips to the doctors, daily dunkin donut coffee breaks and most importantly, helping my dad and I with renovations. My grandfather as many of you know, was a huge part of my life and one of my most favorite people on this planet. I honestly cannot imagine life without him but I am relieved he is not suffering anymore from the cruel diseases of Dementia and Alzheimer’s that slowly took him from us.

My two favorite responses from him that I will never forget.

Me: “I don’t know about you gramp.” Him: “I don’t know either.”

Me: “You are the best gramp ever.” Him: “Well I’m the only one ya got.” 

I snapped a picture of my dad, son and I holding my grandfather’s hand which I am so thankful for. My grandfather will be laid to rest this week at the local Veterans Cemetery next to my gram. Thank you for all of your well wishes, prayers and most of all, loving my gramp like you did. He always loved the fact that he had a “fan base” from the blog and he was fascinated with my blog. He grew up in the depression and technology absolutely amazing him.

He loved to play practical jokes on me with my son. My grandfather taught him to “pretend to sleep.” to make mommy laugh. Here they are below, sitting in broad daylight as people walk by them, pretending to sleep as I returned from parking the car. I can remember the valet person saying, “what are they doing?” I responded saying, “being ding dongs!” Both my son and grandfather busted out laughing. I am so thankful for the memories. Myblog has brought me many blessings the past 7 plus years, one of them being an online family journal for generations to come.

Dementia Diaries

Nursing Home Shenanigans 

My grandfather’s last birthday party at 88 Years old.

We spent just about every single day with each other for the last almost 8 years, with the exception of the last (almost) 2 years since he went to live in the nursing home full time. We spent a lot of time in the car together. He loved to go on daily errands with me, get coffee and just hang out. So many times I would say, “gramp, I am headed to do an errand if you want to go, be in the car in an hour. The man would literally get in the car right then and there, and wait for me ……for an hour. I would say, “what are you doing in the car so early?” He would say, “I don’t want to be late!”

I remember taking this picture like it was yesterday.

He just came in the house from being out and I said, “what the heck are you wearing? I hope you didn’t go out like that!”

He laughed and said, “what’s wrong with it?”

I showed my gram the picture after I took it and she said, “Look at that fool! Did he go out like that?”

Update : See obituary 

Dear Gramp,

“Thank you for teaching me how to milk the cows as a kid, clean the chicken coop and letting me watch you so many nights in the barn doing chores. I loved sitting on top of the stacked hay bales just watching and listening. Although, I could have done without being the “blockade” to keep the cows from running into the barn. I remember clear as day, you telling me to just stand there and waive my arms and they won’t run by you. I can remember thinking, ” you are crazy.” Thank you for getting me my first pony when I was 8 years old and for teaching me how to care for Mr. Patches. He was the best pony ever. Thank for trailering us to all the horse shows and helping me at the horse shows. Thank for especially telling me I was strong like you and could do whatever I wanted in life. Thank you for telling me to always have a strong handshake and not shake hands like a “girl.” -ha.  Thank you for always telling me to never give up on something I want and believed in and that I would always be successful if I just kept trying. You were the best gramp ever….. Behave in Heaven and stay out of trouble!”