My grandpa, who had a lot of hardships in his life and cared deeply about everyone around him passed away at 9:02am on February 14, 2011, I was on an airplane on my way back up to Canada when it happened and I didn't find out about it until yesterday
. My grandpa was an amazing man he was born on Nov 9 1929 in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, he dropped out of school in 6th grade but he was a really smart man and he took care of his family by finding odd jobs. He was a mechanic and loved and collected boats, airplanes and john deere tractors as well as he built his own model ships and planes. He was diagnosed with Lung Cancer in Nov 2010 and he got some treatment for it, but he refused to stay on radiation because he didn't like how it made him feel. He was a strong man who wanted to live for everything, but the one thing he couldn't beat was his cancer which took his life. He told everyone that he wasn't going to live past Monday Feb 14th and he was right.He lived a long tough 81 years, but a happy and peaceful one. While it's hard for me because I was really close to him, I know that he's in a better place with my grandma and he's not suffering anymore, but yet it's still hard I try not to cry but the tears come out, I see something that my grandpa would love or something he loved and they just start flowing. I promised him that I would come and visit him this summer and we would go to the ports and admire all of the wonderful boats, but it isn't going to happen.
When I last saw him in 2004 I didn't think that would be the last time I saw him, but it was all of the good memories I have of him will always be there, but he will not be. I think my way to remember him will be getting a tattoo in honor of him, but of what i'm not sure yet. Maybe a maple leaf or a boat.