Breaking free

Today is November 26th, 2014. It's Wednesday. The last time November 26th was on Wednesday was six years ago, in 2008. That day was like any other day before Thanksgiving. It was a half day. A group of us got together, ordered pizza, and worked on our Spanish project due after the long weekend.  What changed that day was what we found the following evening. We found out our grandfather passed away. Grandpa, I know you're still watching over us. Now, you're probably playing soccer and coaching up there. I miss you, and I love you. Six years gone by is hard to believe, but they have. 

Normally, when I remember someone in my family who has passed, I don't put up a blog. Normally it's a commemorative post on facebook. This year is different. In 2008, I lost two grandparents (separate sides of the family) 4 months and 10 days apart from one another. The weird thing was both were on Wednesdays, both dates ending in a 6, and both days, we ate pizza. Now imagine my mind back then. I made it a point to not eat pizza on a Wednesday that had a 6 in the date. I just didn't. No, I still haven't eaten pizza on a Wednesday with a 6 in it since then. However, this year, I realize, that it was just coincidence. It was in no way some sign from the universe. It just so happened there were odd similarities. I realize that now. It wasn't some jinx. It was just their times to go. 

On this day this year, I want to thank you, Grandpa, for being so great. Thank you for instilling soccer in our family. Thank you for raising three children, one who is my father. Thank you for picking Grannie and I up right before it started raining. Thank you for the many weekends we spent together, just you, me, and Grannie when I was just a kid. Thank you for one of my favorite memories that I cherish (that time you asked Grannie to dance when to a Ray Charles song that was playing on tv when you were in the nursing home). 

And for the amount of times we caught you napping in your chair and we would wake you up by shouting...
"Ready, on the count of three, 1...2...3.. WAKE UP GRANDPA!"

"When other helpers fail and comforts flee, help of the helpless, oh, Abide with me."





Six years is a long time to let something like a coincidence control you. This year, I am breaking free of that anxiety.I know you'd both be proud.