Grandpa

A detailed Summary of Grandpa

In a stark room with the lights turned out, I sit alone thinking. In all of my years I have always had stability. There have been no drastic changes in my life. There was the endless time when my mother had breast cancer, but somehow I knew she would pull through, so it did not really phase me. Now I am encountering a situation that is sure to change my life forever. The one person who never questioned my intentions, always knew my thoughts, and always knew the right words to offer is going to leave me because of a terminal illness. As I wonder how I will ever survive without my grandpa in my life, I place my head in my hands and cry as memories and stories begin to flood my mind.

The first memory I come across is swinging with Grandpa on a hill overlooking a beautiful lake at sunset. Grandpa has his coffee in his right hand while I am snuggled up close to his left side. I recall using times such as this to have heart-to-heart talks with the sole person who understood my every thought. He talked to me as if everything I had to say was of great importance, regardless of the topic. As I reflect more on this memory I realize my grandpa is a lot like the coffee he always had in his hand. The coffee provided hi

the tough times. Always remember that I love you."

need to remember the prayer that goes something like this: 'Oh Lord,

It also helps to know you have people who love you to help you through

The image of Grandpa and Grandma's house on a snowy evening materializes in my mind. My sister and father are there with me, and we are eating with my grandparents. The smells of Grandma's cooking are so real that I feel as if I am really there. We sit around the table laughing and telling of our days. Grandpa interjects his off-the-wall jokes into the conversation, which keeps us from dwelling on our lives. My sister, Cheryl, once commented to me that "Grandpa has this ability to make me laugh at the stupidest things." After dinner my sister and I venture into the living room and beg Grandpa to tell us a story. His stories were always the best. Sometimes they were fun and exciting, and other times they taught us about the history of our town or family. My crying subsides as I discern Grandpa's motives in telling his stories. He wanted us to carry on his legacy to future generations so everyone might know what life is like through the eyes of a loving optimist. The scene of the living room fades and I am met with yet another memory of my grandpa.

to change what can be changed, and the foresight to know the difference.'

The memories come and go, and I learn a lesson with the passing of each one. Perhaps the most valuable message conveyed by my Grandpa came in a letter to my cousin. In it he wrote

bypass the painful times. It seems to me when we have

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Approximate Word count = 1065
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English