I was finally getting enough down time to actually try and burn off some stress when i got hit with a bombshell of a phone call. Looks like i'm heading home on Wednesday.

The reason for the phone call is that, a very close family friend, and a man who acted as a second grandfather, passed away. He was a hero to me. He was one of the kindest, gentlest, and most generous people i'd ever encountered. Whenever he was around, he'd impart sagely advice, and tell of his own grand adventures. He taught me my first german, he got me interested in medicine. He was a hero to me, and just a great man.

I remember him taking me to a baseball game... i think it was a weekend. But i dunno... it was sunny, early fall weather. I was like... maybe 10 or 11... It was after the game that really stood out. We were going out to get something to eat, and we came across a homeless man, asking for money for food. He looked at the man, looked at me, then back to the man. I don't think it even occurred to him that something could have possibly gone wrong. Without missing a beat, he politely asked if the gentleman would like to get a hotdog or something with us. I remember him talking to the homeless man... but it was the whole, random generosity that really stood out.

Later in the car ride home, he told me, "Those who feel entitled are the ones who have nothings. Those that give are the ones who receive the most. Generosity is as contagious as any germ. When you know you have a good life, there is no harm in giving to those with less."

Other of his later sagely wisdom included "Those who give are the ones that will get help when they truly need it. It's the ones who take who will find themselves stranded and alone, as people will always remember who their friends really are"

He was always polite, always tried to do more, and when he complained... it was never over something fickle... when he complained... it was because he was asking for help. He had a seemingly inexhaustible source of patience.

One of his favorite stories was a trip he took with my grandfather. A blizzard was coming from the north, and the tip had covered michigan. He and my grandfather were in chicago. They had about a halfhour until the storm hit them, and left them grounded for a good day or 2. They checked the boards, and had 2 options... Wait for a good 2-3 days in a blizzard, or go to Argentina. My "2nd grandfather" pulled out his checkbook... and away they went.

Calling my grandmother from south america, apparently my grandfather didn't have the courage to deal with his wife's wrath... seeing as he just hopped a flight to a foreign country on a whim. If you met the man... you'd realize it wasn't all that surprising.


I'm going to miss him dearly...

The next few days are going to be -very- testing... I get to try and put on a happy face, and continue to try and be me... when right now... i really don't feel like me... i feel like someone just gutted me... and i'm now just a meat puppet for someone masquerading in my skin.

I'm going to apologize in advance if i'm either difficult to reach, distant, or just very short tempered. Life has been tough enough... and i just... i need to get away. I'm glad i set aside next weekend... i'm... really going to need the vacation.

~Lisky, out