My Grandpa, my teacher, my hero

It has been just over two months since Grandpa died, and I have to say I am much happier knowing that he is no longer in pain. I learned so many things from this man, and above all, it was to have no regrets. I truly believe that Grandpa had no regrets, and he wouldn't want us to be in pain for him being gone. As Aunt Terry said, he prepared us for death at an early age. I often remember going to the Redlands Community Cemetery with grandpa when I was young to play. He taught us at a very young age that death is just another part of life, and we all became comfortable with it. Our family has learned to cope in such an unusual way that we often receive funny looks when we are able to laugh near the graveside.

When Grandma died, he showed us that it is OK to grieve, but that it is also important to celebrate.

Grandpa taught us all the importance of family, to be slow to speak and quick to think, to keep the main thing the main thing, and to have no regrets.

Syd [my cousin] said that Grandpa taught us all different things; he reached us all in different ways. This is how Grandpa reached me:

Grandpa noticed something in me that I think he used right away. He noticed my interest in working with my hands and my abilities in that area. Grandpa trusted me with power tools far before I feared he should have. Grandpa taught me how to:

Roof a house, weld, use a steel grinder, install sprinklers, pour concrete, read a map, plant tomatoes, edge the lawn with an eleven-thousand-year-old edger, paint, change my own brakes, and lay brick.

He used these skills to teach me even greater things and instilled the principles I would need to live life.

I am truly thankful for the time he gave all of us, especially his grandkids. He was a wise man and a great teacher, but more importantly, he was our grandfather. I will miss him with great anguish, but I am glad that he is no longer in pain. I know that one day soon I will see my hero, mentor, and grandfather again.