Pomp

My grandfather passed away on July 31, 2008. What a long strange trip it has been. Up until now, I realize I have had very little real experience with death and I definitely underestimated it. Losing my grandfather was a greater loss than I ever could have anticipated. I felt I was ready, at peace with the idea, calm even. I was not as "ready" as I thought. Pomp had been in the process of dying for some time - 91 years to be exact. The last few of those years were rough and the last few months almost unbearable. I know it is often said that eulogies and such canonize people to a level of greatness that maybe they never truly achieved. I would argue that when we lose someone it is not that we make them out to be more than they were, we just recognize that the good they did while here is so much more relevant than the bad. The good is what makes it such a loss when they go. My grandfather did everything for us as children and a lot for us as adults. The following is by no means an exhaustive list; He drove us to and from school, work, the airport, picked us up when we were sick, framed every possible award (including the Presidential Fitness Award that every elementary kid gets regardless if they can do 1 situp or 50), looked at each report card with careful eyes, listened to me when I talked, supported nearly every endeavor, taught me how to ski, ride a horse, drive a car, and that family above all else is what matters. He wrote to me once that "It is time spent with your family that is best of all, those are the moments that tell who we really are." There is not a time I can remember that he was not there if I needed him. He was my first phone call whenever I needed help and often my first phone call when I needed advice. In my eyes (naive as they may be) what he preached and who he was were exactly the same, this is not to say that he was perfect. Is there even such a thing? It is to say that he was good, kind, funny, patient, and loved me unconditionally. That is a hard thing to lose - even when it's time. All I can do know is remember him, strive to emulate the traits I so admired, cherish my family, and do him proud. So Pomp, I miss you, love you, and hope it all worked out like you planned! I could not have done it without you. To quote my cousin who put it so well "save us a seat up there!" I do hope to see you soon Pomp, but not too soon.