A Stubborn Body
Kelly Posted on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 8:56 PM After my grandfather's last stroke that put him in the hospital, he made the decision to sign a DNR. He decided no more tests, no more procedures, no more medications. He made the decision to refuse a feeding tube, which meant that he could no longer eat and only have a few sips of water. He made the decision that this would be the end of his life on earth.
When these decisions were being made, Papa asked my mom How much longer will it be? She quietly answered, I don't know, Daddy, it depends on your body. He only said Well, this is a stubborn body!
That was nine days ago. Papa passed away today. To say he was stubborn is putting it mildly.
This is my favorite photograph of Papa:
I never knew him to be much of a drinker, but here he was on vacation in Acapulco. Hello Mini Bar!
Papa believed in hard work, enjoying vacations, and spoiling his seven granddaughters with sugar and Shetland ponies.
When I was little running around his farm having fun, I bent down to pick up a rope in the yard. Before I knew what was happening, Papa flew over with a shovel and killed my rope in one swing. Turns out, the rope was a snake. He was my Super Man.
This, by the way, is my favorite photograph of my grandmother during the same Acapulco trip. We don't know who the man is with her- random Mexican citizen??
She passed away when I was only 12. She believed in beautiful clothes, always wearing lipstick and letting her granddaughters use real eggs to make mud pies.
They are both loved and missed very much.
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Reader Comments (4)
I'm so sorry! I know it doesn't take the sting out, but at least he was ready to go and it was on his terms. Me, I'd probably take a large morphine cocktail, but I'm a wuss!
We would so be friends in real life. My favorite picture of my Papa is when he was young, in the navy, and him and two other navy men are toasting each other with huge beers in one had and a smoke in the other! By the time I came around he was "God Fearing Christian" and those types of activities weren't spoken of - unless my Mema wasn't around! haha!
There;s just something about seeing youth in someone you only knew as old. I'm sorry your kids to be won't get to know him, but I'm glad your daughter now has a buddy.
So sorry for your loss. Your grandparents seemed like amazing people. They are surely proud of you.
So sorry for your loss...but what great pictures!
Stopping over from SITS to tell you to wake up your hubby and tell you him that you MUST go to SITScation. But hurry...I think there are only a few tickets left.
This is such a touching post! Papa sounds like a true cowboy and your grandmother looks every inch the lady. They don't make them like that anymore. I am sorry for your loss...