Cross posted at Passive Ranting.
When I was younger, I used to walk to my grandma's house. Every single day, I'd walk the 2 and a half blocks, and every day after school I'd sit in the living room, with him sitting in his lazy boy chair right behind me.
We'd chit chat, talk about my day at school, and then we'd both shush up.
Because it was time for Star Trek.
The Next Generation.
Arguably, the BEST generation.
We'd spend the next 60 minutes watching, laughing, yelling. Always conversing about what we were seeing. For 4 years.
He taught me poker. We played for quarters, a collection of quarters he had in his room in a big glass jug. Sometimes he'd let me keep whatever I won, always teaching me ways to win, ways to play to win.
I'll never ever forget when I was at my grandma's, bored as hell, playing Monopoly against myself. I was screwing around, since it was just me, and I landed on "Chance." I didn't like the card, so I took another one. I didn't know my grandpa was watching, and he flipped out.
He found some random newspaper article about some teenager, right around my age. This teen decided to have a party while his parents were out of town, and he trashed his house. He decided a huge betrayal of trust was all right as long as his friends had fun. It was one of those simple puff pieces that are always interesting to watch, and sometimes actually make you think.
He was always ready to stand up and say hello to me, me above all my other family, even though he was overweight, out of shape, and had bad knees. I saw him sitting there, saying hello to everyone, and when he saw me he fucking fought his way to his feet to give me a hug.
He was in World War 2, transferring radio messages and saving lives.
He was there, pushing my cousin on a swing even though he had a bad back, still trying to make kids smile and laugh.
And this past Thanksgiving, he was still there.
Still struggling to his feet when I stopped by to say hello. Still smiling, still trying to make everyone happy, especially the kids. Still setting an example of what a real compassionate human being should be.
He sounded happy on the phone when I called him today. I told him I loved him, I reminded him of Star Trek: The Next Generation. I told him we were all thinking of him and hoping he'd be ok.
Cancer sucks.
Especially his cancer.
Good Lord I'm going to miss him.
I love you Grandpa.