Michalea Calmes
To my Grandad (G)!
These are the words I had to privilege of speaking at the celebration of your life that we held on Friday, June 24, 2011. You will FOREVER be in my heart… and hopefully my life will be one that makes you proud.
I guess as they say time flies when you are having fun!
FUN— when I think about fun my G is the first person that dances into my mind and heart. He knew how to have a GREAT time! As I was trying to determine what to say today I was sitting talking to my sister. My first words were that I have NO IDEA where to begin! I could go on and on and on. She said you say all that you need to! So everyone get comfy…. Hahaha Just Kidding.
So I guess I would start with memories:
– My Grandad rocking me in his chair well into my high school years
– Laughing with him until my face was red and my tummy hurt
– Grandad/Michalea Dates to 82nd Street Café
– His Toy Net in his room where all the toys the grandkids could not play with were held. Stuffed animals… board games… Now how many Grandad’s were so much fun that they had their own children’s toys. Well mine was!
– Many many mornings watching westerns and eating his PERFECT cheese toast. Mimi always joked that she never tried to make it as great as he did. He had every slice of cheese perfectly placed.
– My G taking care of me when I was sick with Mono. Mom and Mike had to leave town and he drove up to stay with me. I was sooooo sick but he made sure my medicine was always perfectly lined up and given at the most precise time.
– His proud face when I graduated from A&M.
I could go on with memories but I can’t say much more without thanking him. When I had to say goodbye to my granddad on Monday, June 20th to fly home to Lubbock I did just that, I thanked him. I crawled up into his bed and looked at his beautiful blue eyes.
I thanked him for:
– Loving me
– Teaching me to REALLY Laugh
– Rocking Me
– My Amazing Strong Mom
– Loving my Mimi Deeply and showing me what true love looks like in earthly form.
– Loving and accepting my brother and sister as his own grandchildren.
– For being a Grandad that invested rather than just existed.
– For truly knowing me and learning about me.
I then did as our sweet hospice nurse had told me to do … tell him it is okay to go and see Jesus. Let him know that is okay for him to let go. As I said those words tears would not stop flowing…
Then as clear as I am talking to you right now my Grandad, My G, gave me the gift he knew I needed. He knew that my controlling breaking heart needed him to help me let go….
With my Mimi, Mom and Aunt Kimmie waiting in the hall at Windsong… my Grandad clearly spoke what I will honor and work at for the rest of my life…
“Hold Down the Fort”
Grandad, I will do just that … FOR ALWAYS!
While I am up here today I also wanted to thank everyone at Windsong Village here in Pearland. When you are at the point of having to give up some control and care of someone so precious in your life it does hurt and require adjustment. There is one word that I think all of us as a family faced and that is FEAR. You see we have such an AMAZING caretaker in our family and that is my Mimi. She cares for ALL of us… especially my Grandad. So this was a major change for us.
But as the Lord has done throughout all of this.. He gave us a miracle. He provided and home and a team to walk along side my mimi and care for my G until the very end.
So many people:
– Linda
– Eric
– Peter
– Trinice
– Rebecca
– Amy
– Connie
And the list goes on. I know that I am missing people that we will treasure forever in our hearts. You are absolutely so valuable and what you do MATTERS! You are incredibly loved and appreciated by our family. Thank you for your love, work tears and for touching our lives and the life of our Grandad.
So today I say to my Grandad, “ I love you