It's Over

On my way north this morning to give my grandfather the closure he requested ... my head went silent. It happened about 9AM and I was halfway between Houghton Lake and Lake City. I continued with my morning plan of stopping by to see a friend and then headed to Mom and Dad's to wait for Heather. When my cell rang about 10AM I already knew what I was about to be told. I hadn't heard his voice in my head for over an hour ... the longest pause since Tuesday evening. I already knew he had passed, and I can probably pin it down to the minute without ever asking anyone who may have been there.

I'm sad, it's a normal reaction I know, but I also know that it is for the best. And I know that he went peacefully, I felt him slip away. In my head I had been replying to his calls by telling him I would be there, or that I was on my way. When I hit Houghton Lake and got off the express way that reply changed to "I'm here". I did my best to keep my mind busy the rest of the drive, preparing myself to keep the tears from flowing while I talked to Jack. I was just about to Lake City when I heard his voice in my head for the last time today. He called my name once again and then said "good bye, be good." That's what he would always tell me when I left.

Sometimes this "gift" of crawling into someone else's head is a burden ... today it gave me a chance to be there for him in his final moments and hear him tell me good bye. Today it is a blessing and will help me to mourn his passing quickly and move on with life. that's what my grandfather would want me to do anyway.

I'll miss you and I'll do my best to be the rock they need to support them for a while. That's just what I do in times like this.