My grandfather was laid to rest just a few hours ago. For me, that meant he is totally, completely, physically gone forever. He won’t be there anymore if ever I visit my his house in the province. I won’t see him tend to his cows, his plants, smoke his coiled, dried tobacco leaves, cook food or listen to him tell stories about World War II in the airy cottage made of bamboo outside their home. My grandpa has nine children, my father being the oldest and the only one living far away from him. Because travel to my grandparent’s town was long, expensive and dangerous (we have to pass by some mountainous areas where rebels in the Southern Philippines abound), we seldom see relatives in my father’s side.
But everytime we go and visit, I always look forward to my grandfather’s stories and tales of his experiences with the war, his youth, his early marriage and life with nine children. It’s like listening to a story from a book – only that it is real and that story is a part of who I am. I cherish those moments with him in my heart.
When he died, I posted here and in Facebook that my last living grandparent passed away but I have to tell you a secret: I didn’t cry. It was like suddenly, I didn’t know how to cry. Not because I wasn’t sad or hurt of his passing. It’s because I have not seen him for about 15 years and the news of his death seems so unreal for me. We’ve not seen each other for so long but at the back of my mind, he is just there that somehow even in his death I had this irrational thinking that he’s not really dead but just still there – where I can’t see him but still living. I didn’t have the instant reaction to cry which should be natural as someone who’ve lost a loved one. Not me – my tear ducts have some kind of delay reaction. For example, when I leave my family at the airport, I would be smiling but inside the plane, I would burst out crying until the cabin attendants don’t know what to do with me.
Last night, for the first time since my beloved Lolo (grandfather) died, I cried.
When someone dies, wakes in the Philippines usually go on for days before the funeral. I wasn’t there when my mom’s parents died (just 2 months apart!) and when my paternal grandmother passed away 9 years ago but I would imagine if I’ve been there, I would not cry during the course of the wake but would suddenly start wailing once the coffin is placed in the tomb and permanently sealed – when the thought of not seeing the physical body of the loved one is gone forever.
For the first time in years, I miss my Lolo. I’m glad I was able to talk to him three weeks ago in the hospital. He still recognized me and with slurred speech (he had a stroke), he asked how I was instead of me asking him that question. He even joked why I only manage to have one kid and not 9 like him! I could tell he was smiling despite his condition.
They say when someone dies they don’t really leave us. I was terrified of that thought when I was younger because I’m a wimp – afraid of horror movies, dead people and ghost stories but last night when I felt my Lolo’s presence inside my bedroom, I was not afraid.
Finding Backroads 
Sorry to hear about your grandfather.
xxx
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You should get a small journal and write down all the stories you can recall from your grandfather to someday give to Pristine. Now while your memories are so fresh again, before they fade away.
.-= Maribeth´s last blog ..Random Dozen =-.
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(Hugs)
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Sorry to hear about your grandfather. May his soul rest in peace
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I think I know a little bit how you feel. When it’s not someone who’s a part of your every day life it’s hard to remember they’re actually gone. You just think they’re still out there where you can’t see them. 😦
I’m sorry he is gone though. I would have loved to hear his stories too. I bet a completely different perspective than I’ve heard on the war!
Love ya!
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Condolence grace and to your Papa…. It’s comforting to know that you have happy memories of your Lolo.
.-= bin´s last blog ..Danielle?s Ballet Culminating Activity =-.
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Condolence Grace… your memories with him will keep him alive and present in your heart. That is the hard part of being away from the family…. we want them to be always there… for our visit. You’d expect that the situation will make it easy to cope with the sadness since we’re used to being away anyway…. but it doesn’t…. in some way, we feel worse than those who are there….
But your grandpa’s in a better place now… and I bet he left this world with contentment since he has a family he’s proud of.
‘miss u,
E.
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Sorry to hear of your loss i lost my grandgather 9 yrs ago and i was his favorite grandchild!
To this day i miss his voice, his laugh, his big bear hugs and i remember the good times we had after all is memories is all we have left
*hugs*
.-= Mayya @ Sew Chic and Unique´s last blog ..Your vote counts! =-.
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My condolences, my dear. I had the same feeling so many years ago…I learned that no matter how we have been so physically distant with our blood relatives, we still mourn for them anytime because of the memories shared.
Praying for your grandfather’s repose.
.-= Francesca Ivy [Dear Me]´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday: The One-Eyed Smiley =-.
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Hopefully its comforting to you now that you’re older having his spirit never leave your side. I’m very sorry for your loss 😦
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It is not easy to lose someone dear. The recovery may not be that easy. I am sorry for your loss, just think that he is in a place where he will be forever happy.
.-= IT Support Hertfordshire´s last blog ..Exchange Store Fragmentation =-.
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I’m sorry to hear about the passing of your Lolo, that the biggest fear I have (and I guess most expatirates) as we live so far away from our family.
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