My Grandfather: I Need To See Him
I don’t want to do the same mistake I did with my other late grandfather. It has been haunting me that I never got to see him before he died
When my grandfather (from my mother’s side) died at the age of 78, from acute leukemia, I didn’t get to meet him.
I remember it had been more than two months ever since I had last seen him.
My other grandfather (from my father’s side), is ninety-five right now, but he has been having a high fever for more than two weeks.
I don’t want to do the same mistake as I did with my other grandpa.
In this essay, I will tell you all about my heartwrenching mistake that caused me dreams for weeks and left me full of regret.
You will also learn how I don’t want to repeat the same mistake, and most importantly, you’ll learn that you only have one chance to say goodbye.
Not Seeing My Late Grandfather In Two Months
It was 2012, and I was still in high school. My addiction to smoking had just started while I was skipping school any other day.
Then suddenly, one cold day in December, I remember my sister calling me to give me the news that our grandfather had passed away.
“How?” I thought.
I knew he was sick, but I was so used to having him around us that it didn’t make sense that he was suddenly gone.
The house of my grandparents started getting more and more crowded as people came along to give their condolences.
I was confused. I didn’t know how to perceive it. Until I learned something shocking to me, that I still haven’t learned how to cope with.
Two days before he passed away, he said to my grandmother;
“Why didn’t “Plastic Head” come to meet me? I don’t remember when the last time I have seen him was.”
“Plastic Head” was a nickname that a nurse had given me when I was ill in the hospital at the age of 5. I was a messy kid and that nickname stuck with several members of my family for years.
When my mother told me of my grandpa’s confession, my heart dropped. It felt like I got shot and the pain was immense.
One Friday, my dad caught me in the streets (skipping class again), and after he beat the crap out of me, he sent me to school.
I don’t know if it was the beating or that I was still processing the fact that I didn’t get to meet my grandfather before he died, but I cried like a baby in the class that day.
Days turned into weeks, and I started seeing my late grandfather in my dreams more and more.
He would appear in different forms. The last time I saw him (I still remember this vividly), he was dressed like a groom.
Black jacket and khaki pants, with a white shirt and a blood-red rose on his jacket upper pocket.
It was a bright, sunny day and I remember he came by my parents’ house, he met me, and then he faded away as if he was going to never come back.
As I said earlier, I am still processing not meeting him before he passed away… But I think I can make things right this time.
My Other Grandfather Is Very Sick
The man is ninety-five and he has been having a 104 fever for two weeks now. People in the house are getting worried he might not make it.
He doesn’t suffer from anything specifically, besides his prostate issue. But maybe it’s just old age that’s getting the best of him.
I haven’t met him in more than six months with the excuse that I have been too busy. And that’s just an excuse, because the truth is, I have had time to see him at least once.
How come my grandfather is bedridden now?
The guy used to be as solid as a rock. Same height as mine, (I am 6.2) and he used to run like a horse even at the age of ninety.
What changed so fast? I have had so many questions filling my head, ever since my mother gave me the news earlier today.
This can’t be possible. I mean, that’s my grandfather man.
I remember, he used to tell me all those stories filled with war, plots, military, poverty, struggling, suffering, trying, winning, success, and faith. He would always conclude with his unshakable faith in God.
My mother says it’s just life and that we should accept it as it comes and goes.
However, I can make things right before my grandfather passes away. I don’t have much money in my pocket right now, and I am 90 miles away.
But I will do what it takes for me to go visit him tomorrow.
I already lost the chance to say goodbye to my late grandfather. I won’t allow this to happen again.
Final Thoughts
I haven’t met my grandfather in seven months and he might pass away before I do so. I need to hurry up!
I need to jump on the first bus to my hometown and go see my grandfather.
I need to make things right this time, because I don’t want to live with the thought that I could have said goodbye to him, but I chose not to.
Because we choose not to go back to someone or something or someplace that we haven’t seen in a long time.
That is completely our choice, and I want you to learn this;
You only have one chance to say goodbye.
If you miss that chance, you might live your life wondering what would have happened if you were there.
Call your loved ones. Say “I love you”. Pursue that dream. Visit that distant place that you haven’t seen in years. Go back to that thing that you wished to do as a kid. Because life happens now and tomorrow isn’t for sure.
See you on the other side. My grandfather needs me. Goodbye.
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