This Is The End

I was raised by four people. My mother, my father, my maternal grandmother, and my maternal stepgrandfather.

I lost my grandmother a year and a half ago, and it looks like I’ll lose my grandfather this week.

As some of you may know, my grandfather has suffered from dementia for several years. Following the death of my grandmother a year and a half ago, his slide increased exponentially.

My mother was his primary (i.e., sole) caregiver during that period.

He was moved to a care facility over two hundred and fifty miles away. This was in the middle (second half) of August. I won’t rehash the chaos and drama around this but suffice to say I’m not really happy about how it was handled.

My grandfather declined faster in the home, as most dementia patients do. I received a call from the aunt about an hour ago informing me that he only had a few days left.

I’m saddened by the news, but I’m not surprised by it. Even when he was living in his own home sixish weeks ago, he wasn’t doing too good.

I’m not going to make the trip to see him while he’s comatose, and I haven’t decided if I’ll make the trip for the funeral for personal reasons.

I feel like I’ve lost another piece of my youth, never to be seen again.

This all hurts really bad.

My grandpa always wanted to make it to his eightieth birthday before he passed, which he did on September 18th. So, at least he hit that milestone.

He also wanted to be buried next to his wife, who was laid to rest last April, here in Dayton. They have side-by-side plots that have already been paid for.

So my question is, will they bring him back home, or will they bury him up there?

- Josh (09/29/2024)