Time Marches On

So something that occurred this year that I was not very willing to bring up because of how sad it made me, was the passing of my Grandpa Hathaway. I feel like in many ways, I would rather reverence his memory with not saying much about his passing here. But I wanted to share  how much I loved him and what he meant to me. 

My grandpa and I weren't so close that I hung out with him all the time, but he knew me. Who I really am. I always felt like my grandpa understood me and smiled with a knowing smile when he would talk about me. Him and I were much alike. I have a profound respect, love and admiration for music, for the  faith I feel and hold in my heart for my religion, and a deep appreciation for the togetherness of family. I know we have a great many differences, but I hold in my heart such a great gift that I could come from such a noble bloodline as his. My grandpa was loyal, kind, funny and stable. My mother worries sometimes that the way we were raised was unstable and hard on us kids. But really, my grandma and grandpa Hathaway always remained the constant showing in my life of stability, patience and dependability. 

Not one person at his funeral could deny the faith my grandfather had for his religious convictions. He was the strongest man I knew spiritually and had an answer for any question you may ask. I miss my grandpa. I miss his chuckle. I miss his smile when he thought himself to be funny. I loved being picked up by him as a child and feeling like his arms were an elevator because he was so tall. He stood and will ever stand as a strong example to everyone who knew him of standards, love, respect, and was always the one you could forever count on.

Near the end of his life, one week to be exact, I had the blessing of being over to see him, and singing for him one last time. Every year for Christmas, he wanted to hear me sing and I would chicken out or not have something prepared for one reason or another. I regret that deeply. I am so grateful that for this occasion, I set my inhibitions aside and sang for him. He always supported me and my music. I will never forget that love and support. 

 Love you Grandpa!