RIP Gpa

Today is the 1 year anniversary of my grandpa Paul passing away. For him, life has not ended, but changed. I fully believe this cliche/saying. For someone suffering with chronic pain, death is the biggest relief, I am sure. A sudden "accidental" death probably is also. Who knows what there is in store for us after breath leaves our body. All we can "know" is what is in our beliefs. For some, that is the ultimate paradise. For others, reincarnation. And for still others, nothing-ness. I'm sure that list can go on and on. For me, I chose to beleive that we meet our Great Maker and He takes care of us for eternity. As a child, I pictured Heaven to be like Care-A-Lot, where the Care Bears live. Sounds pretty awesome, right? By the time I was 5, I had lost a brother, a sister and a grandfather. My parents were pretty good with explaining death, so to me it was natural. Sure, its sad, but its a part of life. We will see them again one day. As life progressed, and I lost more relatives and classmates, the sad part was harder and harder, but my faith helped me be strong for myself and my loved ones that were also suffering the loss. A year ago, it was awful 'watching' (from Denver) my mother see her father in pain in his last days. Thus, I don't understand the sentiments of some. Saying "please bring him back to his old self, I am not ready to lose him yet"... To me, that is nothing but selfishness. He has fought and suffered for several years. He has lived a long life. Maybe he is ready to go. Ready to be released from the pain of this world and start the next leg of his journey. We say that funerals are for the living. Nothing could be more true. The funerals I've been to have run the gambit. The sad, weeping, dark type to the loving, funny, remembrance type - almost a roast if you will! Enough of my rambling. While today is a sad day of remembrance, it is also a day for celebration! My cousin, who has been in the hospital for over a week was released last night for out-patient care. They think being at home and in his own bed will do a ton for his spirits, thus making rehabilitation much easier. So yay for C! Keep fighting kiddo :)