This week my Grandpa Blain passed away.
He has been battling cancer for the past 4 years. Four years of hearing from the doctors - "you only have a few months", "the best we can give you is another month", or "it could happen anytime" - over and over again. But now he doesn't have to live in limbo or in pain anymore. I am so happy that he is free of that worry and is reunited with Grandma, who passed away 6 years ago.
I know it has been a rough few years. And rough for my mom who has spent a lot of time the last 7 months going back and forth between California and his home in Utah. It is bittersweet, but I am happy that he is at peace now.
My grandpa was a man of few words, but there are few things & images that I want to remember:
*His dairy boots sitting on the front porch. And the bootscraper.
*Haircuts for my brothers. At his house or ours, he would pull out the razor and give them the regular cut or the "summer cut" which was pretty much a buzz. There was the time that Kent was 2 or 3 and we gave him a popsicle to keep him happy and still during his first haircut. His fine, freshly cut hair was blowing everywhere, even landing on his popsicle, but he just kept on licking. Grandpa was pretty amused by that, quietly laughing. I think we have it on a family video somewhere.
*The time he had laser surgery on his lip for skin cancer. It was all puffy and glossy-looking. Being a tease, he would try to catch you and say, "don't you want a kiss?".
*His cowboy shirts. And belt buckle. And hat. He was a true cowboy -- he started working on the farm and riding horses at age 3 or 4.
*His voice, calling John to come help with something at the house or on the farm. Always quick and short, and you knew he meant business. (John was my mom's youngest brother - just 3 years older than me - so he was always around during my growing up years.
*When my mom threw a party for him (not sure if it was for his 60th birthday or retirement) . . . . anyways, he worked for Gallo farms (a pretty big name in California) and one of the Gallo brothers came to our home for the party. He shared his thanks to grandpa and what a great man and hard worker and important employee he was. Grandpa was pretty touched by that gesture.
*Birthday cards from grandpa were always signed with a simple note: "Happy Trails"
*The time he really needed knee surgery and would gross us out by demonstrating all the un-humanly directions he could move his lower leg.
*He had that knee surgery. But before and after he always walked with a bit of a limp. I believe that he had an accident where he fell off a horse as a child.
*Grandpa's chair. He worked hard with the calves at the dairy all day and when he walked in the door he was beat. He sat in his chair, resting, sometimes sleeping, sometimes watching tv. He would watch us grandkids play and when we walked by his chair he would reach out and try to tickle our sides. Or he would make this crazy/weird noise with his mouth that would startle us and make us laugh.
*After visiting, when it was time for us to go home, he would always say, "Come gimme a kiss." And as I got older, and went to college, and was married, and had kids he would always say, "Love you. Sure am proud of you."
Love you too, Grandpa Blain.
