My Granddad passed just over a week ago. I have had a really hard time dealing with this mainly because I kept on delaying flying out to see him for the past year. Now I won’t get to.

He was a special person and someone I loved talking to and hearing all sorts of stories. The following are some of the stories that I’ll tell my daughter about him when she’s older:

– That time when we were fishing together on the Goleta Pier and he asked me what I wanted to do with my life. I was 8, maybe 9 tops.
– Visiting him at his house in Paradise and being fascinated by his chickens. 30 years later I’m now a chicken person.
– Every time he told me how proud he was that I was the only other Republican in the family. I never had the heart to say otherwise.
– The time we had the “conversation” about whether guns were tools or weapons, then he taught me how to shoot.
– The time when he found out I was going to the Naval Academy and sent me his Bluejackets Manual from his enlisted days.
– The time he had chow with my squad at the Naval Academy during Army/Navy week (he served in Navy during the Korean War).
– The time that I took him sailing on my boat.
– The times we went camping.
– How he was the only person I would receive letters from and write letters to.
– How he would always tell me to cut my hair during my “Mowgli” days.
– The time that I called to tell him Nadia and I got engaged. He asked if she was pregnant. I said no, and he responded “well congratulations.”
– The time after he congratulated me on my engagement and said that Nadia should get me something for our engagement as well.
– The time that he held Alexandra for the first (and only) time. It was also the last time I saw and spoke to him.

Love you Granddad. You will be missed.

PSA: Go call or hug your grandparents or anyone special in your life…