Sometimes Life Passes you By
Sometimes life catches you off guard. At times it goes by so slowly that you can catch every second of each day. Then there are other times that go by too quickly and those are the moments that can take your breath away.
A few weeks ago I went home to see my grandparents as my grandfather hadn't been doing too well. Thankfully when I was up visiting, he was having better days than he had been. We had lunch together twice during my visit and I was able to tell him about my classes and how much I loved being in Florida and how much I loved him. For a while I had been putting off going home due to work, class or some other reason. Thankfully I didn't put it off longer than I did.
This past Sunday, my grandpa, Arnold Delin, passed away at 89, one month shy of his 90th birthday. Even though he had been sick for a while, and slowly declining, it still wasn't any easier. I think the worst part was seeing my dad so upset. Papa passed away about a year and a half ago, so this was just another reminder that my grandparents are getting older but I am very lucky to have them for as long as I do/have.
My grandpa and I were not as close as I would have liked in the past few years. Probably due to the fact that I was states away, didn't want to be hassled with driving up to Pottsville on my short visits home, and any other number of reasons. I still remember though, how just like my dad said, family and tradition was always most important.
When we were little, Grandpa used to take Noah and I shopping for clothes for the holidays every year and afterward, we would go help Grandma set the table. My mom found some old photos of Noah and I matching, and was like "Who made you dress like this?" Grandpa :) he always took us to the same store in Allentown and had us in matching outfits for the holidays, most of the time involving some sort of flower print. I always liked going shopping with him and still help set the table when I'm home.
During the holidays, he would always have us follow all the traditions, from reading the Haggadah to hiding the Afikomen. I think this is where my will to follow my roots and keep in my Jewish traditions comes from. These are only a few of the things that my Grandfather instilled in me and that I will remember.
Life comes and goes, but when it goes, it's never easy.
A few weeks ago I went home to see my grandparents as my grandfather hadn't been doing too well. Thankfully when I was up visiting, he was having better days than he had been. We had lunch together twice during my visit and I was able to tell him about my classes and how much I loved being in Florida and how much I loved him. For a while I had been putting off going home due to work, class or some other reason. Thankfully I didn't put it off longer than I did.
This past Sunday, my grandpa, Arnold Delin, passed away at 89, one month shy of his 90th birthday. Even though he had been sick for a while, and slowly declining, it still wasn't any easier. I think the worst part was seeing my dad so upset. Papa passed away about a year and a half ago, so this was just another reminder that my grandparents are getting older but I am very lucky to have them for as long as I do/have.
My grandpa and I were not as close as I would have liked in the past few years. Probably due to the fact that I was states away, didn't want to be hassled with driving up to Pottsville on my short visits home, and any other number of reasons. I still remember though, how just like my dad said, family and tradition was always most important.
When we were little, Grandpa used to take Noah and I shopping for clothes for the holidays every year and afterward, we would go help Grandma set the table. My mom found some old photos of Noah and I matching, and was like "Who made you dress like this?" Grandpa :) he always took us to the same store in Allentown and had us in matching outfits for the holidays, most of the time involving some sort of flower print. I always liked going shopping with him and still help set the table when I'm home.
During the holidays, he would always have us follow all the traditions, from reading the Haggadah to hiding the Afikomen. I think this is where my will to follow my roots and keep in my Jewish traditions comes from. These are only a few of the things that my Grandfather instilled in me and that I will remember.
Life comes and goes, but when it goes, it's never easy.
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