I do not normally go much into topics of real personal value but I think I will for this post. I was looking at my Grandpa Smock’s tribute site because my father updated it by using a picture gallery software and I wanted to see how it was going. It did get me thinking of some of the people over the years I have lost that were close. Now remember this is by no means a comprehensive list because it is past 1:30 in the morning and I am a bit tired.
One of the first people I lost was my Grandmother on my Mother’s side. I never really got to know her because she died when I was two, but from what I was told she liked me a lot which makes me feel better.
Another was my Grandfather on my Mother’s side. He died when I was 15 if my memory serves me right. I do wish I could remember going to his funeral but because of a bump on the head that same year I kind of lost the memory of his funeral, among other things. He is where my Mother got her smart alec side and of course from both of them is where my brother, sister, and I got it. He was almost always joking and enjoyed getting a rise out of people. I do remember that about him.
Up next on this somewhat emotional ride is my Grandfather on my Father’s side. He died on October 24, 2004. The only reason I know the date is because of the site. As I grew all the way to become an adult with him around I remember him of course better. He was a man that was hard-headed, strict, and did not often make jokes. It was not until I got to my mid to late teen years when he started to soften up to where I noticed it. Every time I visited he made a point to see me, even if he just got into bed he would get back up to at least say hi. Sometimes toward the last few years of his life I would try to make it over there to do a crossword puzzle with him or stratch off a few lottery tickets. I never got over there as much as I would have liked to. As usual, you do not always think of such things until it is too late. I do miss him…
I know that I will always miss these and others as the years go by but am glad I have a wife and family to be with on those tough times.