Thank you Grandpa

My Grampa died today.

Early this morning. The nurse said that it was a very peaceful experience. She sat with him all night. It was just her job I guess. I can't say how much I appreciate her job. Grandma doesn't know yet. She's so far gone she probably wont really understand anyway. My mom talked to her, just in general, and she knows that something is wrong though, on some level.

Grandpa Jim.

He was my hero for so long as a little boy. So strong. Powerful. I remember sitting on his lap, pretending to pull out the sword tattooed on his arm and fighting dragons and other monsters.

Their trips to Thatcher in the brown travel van. That van, parked beside our two-story house, was one of my favorite sights on Earth.

I remember sneezing once and my Grandma saying "Are you related to your Grandpa?" A rhetorical question. There was something in the voice though. Something that made me stop and think. I was still a few years away from understanding why my dad's mom had the last name "Cooper" if we were the "Dummar" family.

He was always my Grandpa though. Walking through creeks to collect black rocks. Eating prickly pears off a cactus. Laughing as Matt and I dug our fox-hole in 29 Palms and shooting our BB guns.

He was so excited building that house. The move from Frazier Park was surprising. Ultimately all I cared about was that they were closer to our house.

He gave me and Matt bazookas once. Surplus trash from the 29 Palms marine base. We were the coolest kids on the block.

The last time that I talked to him...
An impromptu family reunion at my uncle's house in Heber. He was so excited to meet my wife for the first time...again. He was absolutely amazed at seeing my daughter. Our conversation wasn't deep. Just a grandfather talking to a grandson about day to day life and family. A farewell really. The next time I saw him he was emaciated, body and mind, by the disease that he fought so hard.


He almost died a few years ago, when they moved him from California to Utah. He was comatose for a while, but like the old sailor he was, he surprised everyone and pulled out of it.

And now he's made it home. Good job Grandpa. Enjoy getting reacquainted with your memories.

I love you.