Sad News for Army of Dad

Late Friday night/early Saturday morning, Army of Dad and I were out visiting friends and hanging out when we got a voicemail that Grandpa had a seizure and was being taken to the hospital. He has been suffering from throat cancer and undergoing an aggressive chemo therapy plan since May. We got word early Saturday morning, that he passed on. This is the last photo we have of Grandpa. Army of Dad went to visit his family in Minnesota in June. That is Little Bit's godfather (and AoD's brother-in-law) in the floor along with our niece. We are going to miss Grandpa and we're terribly saddened by the news. But, once we get past the selfish parts of ourselves, we know he is no longer suffering and for this we are glad for him. Now, our worries focus on Grandma, who will be without her main caretaker. The walker in this picture is hers. She moved from the home (pictured here) that they shared for 40+ (?) years into an assisted living apartment complex for seniors. It will be a good thing for her, but we all worry about how she will handle his loss. There is no family there for her now. Prayers will be most appreciated. Army of Dad is just really glad he took the trip to Minnesota this summer. Grandpa must have known his days were numbered - as he bid farewell to Army of Dad, he gave him a hug and told him it would likely be the last time he saw him alive. He was right.

Funny thing happened Saturday afternoon to give me pause. Army of Dad called me to turn the radio station. A special song was on the radio. Come Sail Away by Styx. My late grandmother, who died in the summer of 1999, hated that song. *giggling* My cousin and I were listening to it one night and Granny said: Oh for God's sakes, sail away with him so he'll shut up! Ever since, I can't help but laugh and think of Granny when this song comes on. Often, I will hear it on the radio on occasions that make me know that Granny is looking down on me and trying to reassure me. I caught it once on her birthday. Another time, I was thinking about her and flipped the channel and caught it. Very weird. Army of Dad heard it Saturday morning, just a few hours after we got the news about his grandfather. I couldn't help but feel that Granny was reassuring me that she was welcoming AoD's grandfather to heaven and showing him the way to the easy chair for a smoke on his pipe.