The 10th Ining April 7, 2008
Posted by Kylie in : Life Outside of Tris, pics , trackbackMy grandpa is a wonderful man, and I will miss him. He passed away over night. It was not sudden — he battled prostate cancer and recovered, but then had cancer in his lungs, spine, and I think kidneys. Yet he was not in pain — last time I spoke with him and my grandma, he was only occasionally taking over the counter Tylenol. But fluid built up in his lungs, and the risks of draining it while he was still in no pain weren’t worth it. He soon went home, but still didn’t believe it was really about the end.
My mom told him when I got engaged, and while he was very happy for me his face dropped when he heard it was going to be a September wedding. He knew he probably wouldn’t be able to be there with me. That week, he and my grandma sent me a card and let me know they wanted to buy my wedding dress, as he wanted to be with me that day as much as he could. This weekend I got my dress, and the last news he had about me and Mike was that he had bought us a beautiful wedding dress. And the ring on my finger, symbolizing the love of my life, is one he picked out for my grandma.
As he always was, he didn’t want anyone to see his weakness, and wanted us to remember him as the strong man he always was in my life. Talking to his wife, he knew had to start accepting that it was near the end of his time, and he realized all his family already knew. The hard part for him was the waiting — he didn’t like sitting around waiting to die, and he was scared, but hew knew it was time and that was that. A former Boston Red Sox pitcher, he told my grandma he was in his tenth ining. Last night he was coughing some in his sleep, and then stopped. When Grandma woke up, he was gone.
Right now it’s tough, but I’m working to remember him as he would have hoped. He will be cremated as to his wishes, not wanting the body he was in as the end of his days to be our memory of him. He wants us to remember the powerful force he was in our life, so here it goes…
- My grandpa is huge — I think 6′4″. I loved riding on his shoulders when I was little, and how he’d have to duck to get us through doorways.
- I loved the stories of my grandpa’s tanning time. As a baseball player, his arms and face got much darker than the rest of him. So when he’d lay out in the sun at home, it was with socks on his arms and a towel over his face.
- He rarely talked about himself, but occasionally you got a story out of him. He pitched against some of the greats (I think Micky Mantle, and others of that time). He could always tell you about when he struck out So and So, but if you asked about other people he had pitched against he could never remember how it had gone.
- He and my first grandma always loved having my brother and I around as kids. He’d make sure to have M&Ms, and we’d sort them by color and drink special apple juice that came in little tiny apple-shaped bottles.
- His car could talk. I just wanted to know why it thought the door was a jar — shouldn’t it know it was a door?
- I remember how much I loved playing on his lawn. Since it was a slight downhill it was the perfect place to learn to do a cartwheel.
- He never forgot how much I loved his tangerines. Even once I was in college he’d always bring bags of them to my mom, and make sure that she knew to get a bunch to me. And one of the last times I visited he had me go check the tree.
I will be adding more as I go through my memories of him.
Grandpa I love you, and I miss you.
(more grandpa stories are on my old blog but I don’t think they are viewable for the world… I will have to share some of them later).
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[…] Mwiki - ArmchairGM - Sports Wiki Database wrote an interesting post today on The 10th IningHere’s a quick excerptA former Boston Red Sox pitcher, he told my grandma he was in his tenth ining. Last night he was coughing some in his sleep, and then stopped. […]
That is so sweet Kylie. I took 17 years before I could write about my Dad, I wish I could have put thoughts down sooner, I think there would be more of them. It is so wonderful that you will have a daily reminder of him for the rest of your life in your wedding ring. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Your grandpa has always been — as have I — so very proud of you. This is a beautiful tribute to my dad … Dennis and I read this and cried and smiled and laughed.
You are a wonderful tribute to your grandfather, and I’m so happy to share this with you.
Love —
Mom
I’m so sorry for your loss, Kylie. My thoughts are with you and your family. So much love there.
Thanks for sharing the memories of your grandpa and what he means to you. Ten years ago my grandpa knew it was his time and waiting was very hard on him. It’s great that your grandpa got to meet Mike, and I’m sure he already knew everything you’re writing about him. Take care.
Sorry to hear about your Grandpa passing away. It sounds like he had an excellent life. And you have such great memories that will last forever.
Sorry for your loss- there is never time to prepare for losing someone who meant so much. Glad that you could have those happy memories to warm your heart.
Kylie ~ What a beautiful tribute! I lost my grandfather 7yrs ago, and my grandmother 3yrs ago. Attending another funeral just yesterday had them both in my mind and remembering the sadness in my heart when they each died. You and your family are in my thoughts.