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My dad called me this evening to let me know that my grandfather is dying. I’ve spent the last few hours arranging things so that I can leave tomorrow morning to be with him and the rest of the family. I expect to be gone for a week to ten days. I’ll probably check Hatrack from my parents house once or twice, but don’t expect the Guess the Author Game to be moving too fast.
This isn’t unexpected – my grandmother died almost exactly two years ago, and before that we really thought they were each holding on to life in order to take care of the other. I will probably post a tribute thread at some point – Grandpa is an incredible person and I’d like to tell you all about him. But for now I just wanted you all to know why I won’t be around for a while.
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(((dkw))) I'm really glad that you're able to be with your family at this time. We'll miss you.
Posts: 6415 | Registered: Jul 2000
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((((((((((dkw)))))))))) ((((((((((dkw's family)))))))))) Even when it's not a surprise, it's still hard. Our thoughts and prayers go with you.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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((dkw)) If you want, you could e-mail a referee the author of the current sample . I'll volunteer, I haven't guessed this round. But don't worry about it either way.
Posts: 6316 | Registered: Jun 2003
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I don't usually do the prayer thing, but I know what it's like to lose a loved one...many times over... You'll be in my prayers tonight. Take care.
Posts: 677 | Registered: Sep 2003
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My prayers may not help much, being a heathen and all, but you've got 'em. It's hard losing a loved one, even when you have been expecting it. I'll be thinking of you.
Posts: 9293 | Registered: Aug 2000
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I'm sorry dkw. When I lost my grandfather, five years ago, it was one of the hardest experiences of my life. Juliette lost a grandfather a few years ago as well.
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Thanks everybody. Grandpa died in his sleep yesterday morning. My uncle from Oklahoma arrived in time to talk to him Thursday night, and he and my Dad were there when he died. I wish I'd gotten there sooner, but I (and the rest of the grandkids) had some good talks/times with him in the last year, and there's not really any "unfinished business."
This morning there's a short memorial service at the residence center where he lived for the last few years. It's a small assisted-living type place and most of the staff and residents won't be able to come to the funeral. After that we all head for South Dakota. The funeral and burial will be in Aberdeen on Tuesday.
Thanks again for the hugs and prayers and good thoughts.
Posts: 9866 | Registered: Apr 2002
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My grandmother died three and a half years ago, my father's mother, on his birthday weekend. We were all in shock, and he had to fly emergency to Israel on his birthday weekend, and deal with her funeral and everything. It was very hard for all of us, and I know exactly how you feel.
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Take my first post and change "Grandfather" to "Grandmother" and consider it re-posted. I have a few things I have to do for work before I can leave, but I'm headed for Fargo (ND) this afternoon. I knew this was coming, which is why I didn't start the next round of Guess the Author, but part of me kind of hoped Grandma would surprise everyone again. She's been "expected" to die several times before, starting when I was in about fourth grade. When she had her first pacemaker put in, the doctors told us it was guarenteed for 10 years and that we wouldn't have to worry about a replacement because she wouldn't live that long. She's on her third!
But it's the real thing this time. Her body is shutting down and the doctors say there's nothing that's treatable. And she's 93 years old, and is ready to go home. There's only a very little, selfish part of me that wishes she'd waited a few months (or years!) so that my parents didn't both have to deal with losing their remaining parent at the same time. Ah well. I don't get to write the timelines.
No matter how ready you are for this, or how ready she is, it's still hard, espcially when you have to deal with the loss of multiple grandparents.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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