With every death, a new life begins.

Yesterday kind of sucked. But in a way, I feel like we all feel that much more relieved. Grandpa passed away yesterday around 6:00pm, while we were all holding his hands and being there for him.

I got a phone call in the morning from my dad telling me that Grandpa wasn't doing well, and that I should probably go see him soon. I wanted to cancel my bachelorette party right away so that I could go on Saturday, but he told me to wait until he knew more from the nurses and doctors. A little while later, I got another call from dad, tellng me that Tara and I should probably leave work immediately and come to the Cities, as the hospital staff didn't think Grandpa had more than 24 hours to live. Of course, I bailed right away, catching a ride with my uncle Mike and aunt Nancy. We got to the hospital by 5:20, and hauled our butts up to the room where Grandpa was staying. As soon as we got there, and uncle Mike went up to Grandpa to hold his hand, all of Grandpa's vital signs shot up; he knew that Mike was there. Jackie had been telling Grandpa to hold on, that Mike was on his way (the last sibling to be able to make it to the hospital).

As we sat there holding his hands, Kate told us that Grandpa had been telling her that Grandma Irene visited him every night at 6:00. He understood that should wasn't alive, but somehow, still she came to see him and talk to him. As the clock drew nearer to the 6:00 hour, we all found ourselves looking up to watch the hands slowly close in on the time that Grandma would come to visit. As soon as 6:00 hit, we looked at Grandpa, looked at the clock, and the room got very quiet. The minutes and seconds went by SO slowly! But after a little bit, the nurse came in, and told us that it was basically his pacemaker that was keeping his heart beating; he had stopped breathing and hadn't been for quite a few minutes. After a while, she came back in and told us that there was no heartbeat. Just like that, he was gone.

Even though we were all devastated, it was like we knew he was with Grandma. She'd come to talk to him, and together, they decided it was time. I can't imagine how happy they must be to finally be together. It's been so long. Jackie made the comment that she wondered how Grandma and Gladyce were getting along; I don't know! That'd be interesting to see. But now he's up there with both of them, checking on my sister Nicki, and baking kickass apple pies, cookies, and baked beans for anyone who wants them. Halibut, too, I'm sure. I'm guessing that in Heaven, there's an unending supply. Who knows?