Post by Jessica McKinley Carpenter on Nov 19, 2008 1:22:59 GMT -8
Please Read! I'm giving the below speech on Thursday during the memorial service. Although, I would like to know what you all think? Considering my dream is to become a writer.
There are so many good things that I could tell you about my grandfather. But I wouldn't quite know where to begin at.
Yes, he may be gone, but the memories, his love, will last a lifetime. And as long as we remember who he was, he shall always be with us. And, of course, I'm terribly heartbroken, but I believe that he's in a better place now. That he is no longer suffering and gasping for the very air that he breathed. You see, my grandfather was my best friend. He was my buddy. And he meant the world to me.
For twenty-two years, he's been there. We talked, hung out, it all just seems so weird now. No more conversations or sitting under the pavillion watching the rain fall from the sky. No more looking at Christmas lights or family game nights. No more hearing his voice or seeing his smiling face. Except, of course, in our memories and our dreams. The things he taught us, his grandchildren, we will most likely teach our own children. So, you see, he will never be truly out of our lives.
Because everything...everything that I've learned from him means something. It's different than learning from your own parents. Because grandparents aren't there to judge. They are there to listen and give advice. To help you with problems if you need it. Because you couldn't always go to your own parents.
So, in conclusion, my grandfather (or Bapa as I've called him since I could talk) was very loved. And we will continue to love him. Even when we have our own kids, or grandkids, or great grandkids. All we can really do is to remember him the way he was. Not like how he was his last weeks of life. He wouldn't want that. And remember, he loved us. All of us. And he wouldn't want us to be miserable without him. So, it's okay. It's okay to be happy for ourselves. Even though he's not here. We should continue to live....for him, for ourselves.
May he rest in piece !!
