Rest well, Grandpa
He'd been ready for a long time, tired of his age, his inability to do what he could. It still is hard to see him go.
I spoke to my dad the day before yesterday and he let me know that the end was very close. Being so far away and with everyone else recently making their pilgrimages to see baby Sven, he was worried I was feeling a bit left out. He's a good man and I will always appreciate that.
That night, I went to bed last night afraid to wake up. To see the message in my phone letting us all know that Des, my dear grandfather, someone who in the last few years I'd discovered to be completely on the same wavelength I am, was no longer with us. I woke up early, but I forced myself back to sleep, just pushing it back a little longer.
6:45 and I'd been lying there for an hour. It was time, even though I wasn't ready. I'm careful not to wake Sofia, the same as all mornings. It's dark, it's quiet, and I'm in our tiny kitchen. I open Telegram, and of course the message is there in our family chat. Many of them.
Desmond Paynter Gilbert died at 5:15 Thursday morning, Brisbane time, leaving two sons, two daughters in-law, five grandchildren, a great-grandson, and all of those who knew him better off for having done so. He was 94 years old.
I'm really going to miss you, Grandpa. Thank you for everything.