Grandpa

My grandpa died this morning at 6:30 am.

Last night my mom called me and told me Grandpa was quickly slipping away. I texted my dad and arranged for him to come pick me up at 11 am today. At 11 pm last night I heard a knock on my door- it was my dad! He thought that I wanted to go see Grandpa at night. So I went anyway, and got to the hospital in Marshalltown a little after midnight. My grandpa, who had Alzheimer's, died from pneumonia. When I got there he had an oxygen mask on, and was only able to squint open his eyes. He couldn't talk, and could barely breathe. I got up right into his face and was telling him who I was. I held his hand, although I don't think he liked that because he never was a touchy-feely guy.

Side story: in fourth grade I played the violin. Grandpa loved the violin, and asked me to play him the Star Spangled Banner. I soon quit, and never was able to learn that song. I've always felt terrible about it, so last night I hummed him the Star Spangled Banner with my mom and aunt. It was really powerful, and I was crying so much.

Before I left, I had a little time with him alone. I got up close to his face again so he could see me through the squinting and told him I loved him. I told him that he gave me his blue eyes and stubbornness. And that was the last time I'll ever see him.

My mom told me he died this morning. The nurses were shocked because his heart was still beating so strong. It was just his time to go. It sounds morbid to some people, but I'm really shocked he didn't die before now with all that he has gone through.

I really looked up to my grandpa, and I'll miss him.