February 6, 2008 marks the one year anniversary since Bob passed away. A lot has happened this past year and not a day goes by that something doesn't remind us of why we loved him so much and just how much he is and will continue to be missed like crazy.
Robert resembles Bob from the wispy hairs on his head, to the similar baby pictures from Bob's childhood, down to the little chubby crooked pinky finger.
Matt not only talks about him constantly but continues to act like Grandpa in his carefree, crazy antics.
Every trip to Hamden is a reason for Megan to mention the trips to the convenience store where Grandpa would buy his hard rolls and a treat for her during the time he used to babysit for us.
And those same trips to Hamden always include a drive past the cemetery where he is buried and is cause for a chorus of "Hi Grandpa, hi Mimi, hi Grimpie! We love you and miss you!" to come from the back of the car from both kids. (And most recently, Matt has added a greeting to God in that grouping.)
Everyone in the family has dealt with this loss in different ways. Some moved past that moment in a steady gradual movement and others are continuing to struggle every day, looking for that happy or at least calm place in their lives again. But no matter how we've managed to move on or how far past the sadness we've pulled ourselves, his memories continue to stay with us.
Bob was always willing to lend a helping hand, and the way that he loved his family, his grandkids, the Red Sox and Notre Dame, can not be compared. He may not have been a perfect man or lived a perfect life, but he was about as passionate as they come. If he were here to tell you himself, I'm sure that he would agree that although he wasn't quite done, he managed to live a full life. And I thank my lucky stars every day that he was a part of mine.
2 comments:
:-( It's never easy but when they are taken away so young it's just ... I get mad thinking about it.
My Grandma died in 1981..to this day I still say hi to her everytime I drive by the cemetary..not always out loud..but I remember.
He sounds a bit like my Grandad. He died at 93 years of age a couple of years ago. I've always been glad that my kids are old enough to remember their great-grandad.
It's the passionate ones who give warmth, colour, sound and movement to life. Sometimes they annoy you and sometimes they can make you cry with laughter. When they go they leave one heck of a hole.
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