The sun is coming up and it is one of those times that pink wispy clouds, float across the sky, seemingly, chasing the night away and welcoming the day. It is going to be a beautiful fall day.
Today is also the funeral for my Grandpa Wayne. Grandpa Wayne came into my life almost 15 years ago. I was recently engaged and as it turns out so was my Grandma who had been a widow for more than 10 years. I wasn't quite sure what to make of this Wayne person, my memories of my grandpa were so strong in my heart, I wasn't sure that I wanted a Grandpa Wayne.
Well time passed and the more I saw my grandma and Grandpa Wayne I began to realize how lucky my grandma was. She found a person who loved to do the things she loved to do. They traveled together, taking trips all over the country and one or two out of the country. They went on cruises and for the first time in a very long time she had a golfing partner.
When she married Wayne he was not a member of our religion. However, not even a half a year in to the marriage he became a member. The transition was so smooth that I think he had always been a member. He was one of the kindest people you ever met. He didn't like my grandma gossiping or saying mean things. Even when she would get going, as you know us women are prone to do, he would cut her off and say something nice. Of course, this would make us all fill ashamed and want to be better.
Together grandma and Grandpa Wayne worked in the temple and did volunteer work. One of the places you could always find them was at the air force Museum. Wayne had been a fighter pilot in another life and he loved giving tours. He worked there almost until the end.
I had children and he welcomed them into his life with open arms. They traveled to California to help bless our babies. You never saw a grandpa who would chuckle and cuddle little ones like Grandpa Wayne. When we moved to Utah and were short on family grandma and grandpa would show up to programs and laugh and be the best grandparents. Afterward, big hugs for the kids and tell them they were the best ones. Grandpa was always smiling. He always admired my children and loved them as a grandpa should.
It was probably about 5 years ago that one of my children talking to Grandpa Wayne started the conversation by saying, “Wayne,” that I realized that my long habit of calling him Wayne had rubbed off on to them. That night when we came home I decided that if anyone deserved to be called grandpa it was Wayne. So to my family he became Grandpa Wayne.
It is sad that we have to say goodbye to Wayne today and I am blessed with a religion that has taught me that today is not goodbye forever. Today is a celebration of a wonderful person with a wonderful heart. I hope that I as I remember Grandpa Wayne I can be a better person and an example of the kindness he lived daily.
Goodbye Grandpa, say hi to everyone for me.
Today is also the funeral for my Grandpa Wayne. Grandpa Wayne came into my life almost 15 years ago. I was recently engaged and as it turns out so was my Grandma who had been a widow for more than 10 years. I wasn't quite sure what to make of this Wayne person, my memories of my grandpa were so strong in my heart, I wasn't sure that I wanted a Grandpa Wayne.
Well time passed and the more I saw my grandma and Grandpa Wayne I began to realize how lucky my grandma was. She found a person who loved to do the things she loved to do. They traveled together, taking trips all over the country and one or two out of the country. They went on cruises and for the first time in a very long time she had a golfing partner.
When she married Wayne he was not a member of our religion. However, not even a half a year in to the marriage he became a member. The transition was so smooth that I think he had always been a member. He was one of the kindest people you ever met. He didn't like my grandma gossiping or saying mean things. Even when she would get going, as you know us women are prone to do, he would cut her off and say something nice. Of course, this would make us all fill ashamed and want to be better.
Together grandma and Grandpa Wayne worked in the temple and did volunteer work. One of the places you could always find them was at the air force Museum. Wayne had been a fighter pilot in another life and he loved giving tours. He worked there almost until the end.
I had children and he welcomed them into his life with open arms. They traveled to California to help bless our babies. You never saw a grandpa who would chuckle and cuddle little ones like Grandpa Wayne. When we moved to Utah and were short on family grandma and grandpa would show up to programs and laugh and be the best grandparents. Afterward, big hugs for the kids and tell them they were the best ones. Grandpa was always smiling. He always admired my children and loved them as a grandpa should.
It was probably about 5 years ago that one of my children talking to Grandpa Wayne started the conversation by saying, “Wayne,” that I realized that my long habit of calling him Wayne had rubbed off on to them. That night when we came home I decided that if anyone deserved to be called grandpa it was Wayne. So to my family he became Grandpa Wayne.
It is sad that we have to say goodbye to Wayne today and I am blessed with a religion that has taught me that today is not goodbye forever. Today is a celebration of a wonderful person with a wonderful heart. I hope that I as I remember Grandpa Wayne I can be a better person and an example of the kindness he lived daily.
Goodbye Grandpa, say hi to everyone for me.
Comments
has called many of our loved ones "home".