At
a young age, people fail to realize that death is more than a person you love
passing. This is the story of one of the saddest days of my entire life.
November 11th 2014, is the day my grandfather had passed. I was fifteen years
old at the time, in my sophomore year awaiting the end of the first semester
with eagerness. It was a Tuesday evening when I received the news of the
passing. We had known that he was sick but did not expect his passing so
suddenly, we had expected at least 2 more months with him. My grandfather was
notorious for his swift grace and beyond natural charm.
He
was in his early 70’s and had a grand sense of humor. I once stayed the night
at their house with my little cousins and it was a night filled with sly jokes
and intense card games. The day of his passing, the young ones were not allowed
at the house due to the aura of sadness. The adults of the family thought it
too much for them to handle and already had too much on their plate to handle.
I arrived home after an enjoyable day at school and I began my homework. Not
long after, my uncle stopped by to pick me up and placed the burden upon me. It
was hard for me to accept it until I arrived at my grandparents house and
observed my entire family scattered throughout the entire house.
It was an interesting site due to my ignorance
of the situation. I walk in through the side gate and enter the backyard area
where even more of my family sit accepting what they had witness. I had made an
observation that involved little no to children under the age of fourteen near
the house. I lock eyes with my one of my older cousins and he describes the
situation to me. Not long into his talk, he teared up and gave me a warm hug.
At this point, my heart started to ache due to the nature of the situation and
I started to tear up. Afterwards, I walk inside and make note of the aura of
the room. It seemed very grim and if colors had a smell, it would smell like
gray. My grandfather was surrounded on
his deathbed by family and I note my mother next to him, pleading for
forgiveness. I did not understand at the time why she wanted to be forgiven but
I assumed she was doing it for a good reason. Afterwards, I had a chance to say
my peace with my grandfather. At that point, my face was filled with tears that
were initially repented, but afterwards welcomed upon my grandfather's
forehead. I had gave him a kiss of goodbye and I had to step outside where I
locked eyes with one of my cousins that is of the same age as me.
As
I walked towards him, I noted that he did not looked sad or down at all and I
posed a question stating why aren’t you sad? He said he is trying to be sad but
just cannot for some reason. To lift my spirits, I made a joke saying that his
heart is made of stone. He smiled and went on to say his peace. Time went by as
it does normally, and it was time for the journey to the graveyard where we
would lay him to rest. It was about half an hour away from the home and the
entire drive there was grim. We were escorted by police to our destination, courtesy
of my uncle which had arranged it. We arrived at the graveyard and our priest
from our church was there, ready with the necessary items needed to lay a soul
to rest. The service started and ended
as it did and we laid him to rest. I lay a rose upon his casket and kiss it as
a final kiss to my beloved grandfather. Not until the day after at school in
English, did I learn that the people you overlook are really the people you
love the most. My grandfather to me was just my grandfather but at the same time,
I remembered all the good things he did to make me feel like I can accomplish
anything in my life. That day at school I was let off easy from all the stress
and hardships school can make. The day my grandfather died was the day I
learned one of the hardest lessons in life to learn. In order to learn
something, you must go through it first. Naturally, I was ignorant to the
aspects of death and when it was finally time for my grandfather to go, the
event hit me with a force of a thousand suns.
To this day I regret not ever treating him
like I should of, and always wish there was a chance to say sorry and make my
peace from child to grandfather. I will never forget the one man that made me
feel like king everytime I had the pleasure of laying my eyes upon him. But for
now, all I can say is rest in peace my beloved grandfather, and I hope that you
are watching over me with the same attributes you owned in life. As grim as
this event was to me, it taught me the very hard lesson of death and how to
deal with it. In the end, life goes on as it does, kingdoms grow and fall, life
changes and becomes what I know now, which is tough yet enjoyable.
I feel the same way as you do, Anthony. My grandfather passed away like a year ago and I still remember him till this very day. I feel regret and shame due to my actions I have do to him in the past. I wish I could just see him one more time, just to say sorry. I highly relate to your story and I hope you feel better as time goes by.
ReplyDeleteI definitely can relate to this although my situation was different of course. I lost my father around that time as well. This year December will be two years since he's passed away. My father and I were very close and when he passed, I couldn't believe it. Even till today it still seems surreal as if at any given moment, he can just give me a call on the phone. My eyes are way more open to death than before. I have so many questions of why and how it is he would've left so soon. The circumstances of my father's death are way to complicated to explain. But I think of him every blessed day, and I wish I could tell him all the accomplishments that I am soon to achieve ( like graduation from high school). I'm glad you are able to keep emotionally and mentally stable in that situation because it is not easy, especially when you are young and still trying to find yourself and a tragic situation like that happens. Rest in peace to your grandfather and may comfort and peace be with you and your family.
ReplyDelete-Funmi Sule
It was incredibly brave of you to muster the courage to detail such a somber occurrence in your life. Your ability to channel your thoughts at that given time and have such an genuine voice is truly astounding. Toward the middle, about the third or fourth paragraph you began to switch from present to past tense and back to present tense so it occasionally made it a bit difficult to understand, but due to the nature of the piece and how hard it was to write it, I understand and continue to commend you.
ReplyDelete-Lauryn D.
DeleteThank you for sharing this moment with us. It must have been extremely difficult for you to have to think back on that day. For me, while I have had family members pass away, they were usually relatives of my mother that I never knew. I cannot imagine the pain you felt. I know it makes me think of my grandmother, the only grandparent I have ever known, and appreciate the time I have left with her. You did a wonderful job at conveying all of the emotions you felt when this happened.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to start off and say thank you for sharing this experience with everyone. I would have never known the pain you had gone through in this situation. I can also relate to this so much. My grandfather passed away while I was in 7th grade. I found out in the morning of school and cried for the good part of the morning. As a young child I was always ignorant and arrogant in the sense of my grandfather always wanted me to come visit to go fishing. However me, being me I wouldn't want to go because I thought I could always spend my time doing something better. When I eventually found out the news though I got so sad and realized the mistakes I had made and how selfish I was. This story just reminded me of that and I wish the same, that I could go back and just go on at least one fishing trip before he passed.
ReplyDeleteI really thank you for sharing such a personal story, as we are so disconnected from death and stories like yours show the harsh but true reality. Although I cannot personally relate, how you describe everything you were feeling through dark and solemn diction is very clear and easy to follow. Also, the reflection at the end about how you wished you could treat him better reminds me to appreciate everything and everyone that is in my life, and I'm sure others would feel that way as well.
ReplyDeleteLet me begin with thanking you for sharing such a personal story and it really is heartbreaking to let someone close to you go. The way you told your story was well organised and balanced. I like how you start off by describing the environment in each different setting and then continuing with the story. This way a clear image of the setting is established in the readers mind, so they can fully grasp what is happening and the emotion connected to it. I also personally went through a similar time when my grandmother passed away. I share your opinion on the topic of death and how is not easy to handle and can most certainly be devastating.
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ReplyDeleteWow, I am quite shocked of how much I can relate to your story. In June of 2014, my Grandpa also passed away. Reading your extremely descriptive passage, I felt as if I were reading the story about my Grandpa passing. However, my Grandpa died of an unexpected heart attack so it was a huge surprise to us all. All the details and imagery you used really "hit home," so to speak. Even down to your cousin with no emotion, for I too had a cousin that could not find it in himself to cry or weep for our Grandpa. One more thing, my Grandpa passed away in the summer, so I can not even imagine going back to school, that must have been so hard! Overall, I can totally relate, it was a great story.
ReplyDeleteWow, I am quite shocked of how much I can relate to your story. In June of 2014, my Grandpa also passed away. Reading your extremely descriptive passage, I felt as if I were reading the story about my Grandpa passing. However, my Grandpa died of an unexpected heart attack so it was a huge surprise to us all. All the details and imagery you used really "hit home," so to speak. Even down to your cousin with no emotion, for I too had a cousin that could not find it in himself to cry or weep for our Grandpa. One more thing, my Grandpa passed away in the summer, so I can not even imagine going back to school, that must have been so hard! Overall, I can totally relate, it was a great story.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure everyone can relate to this in some way if not entirely; brought up some memories for me too. Overall this piece was done really well, and the small details of the story changing as the day progressed really made it pop. Especially seeing everyone else's reactions from your younger self's viewpoint. Your story was a bittersweet reminder of death and its lessons. Thanks for sharing dude.
ReplyDelete- Nathaniel Velasquez
It takes a lot of strength to publicly write about something this close to your heart so I applaud you for that. I really thought about the lesson you mentioned and I completely agree with you. We never truly appreciate our family and the people close to us. I think we do this because we assume that they will always be there for us but that is not the case. Just this week, my grandfather was in ICU after undergoing surgery. Luckily, he recovered and is now in rehabilitation. I am extremely lucky that I did not lose my grandfather but it was defiantly a wake up call. Your piece was emotional but great. Good job!
ReplyDelete-Katie Strain
Great piece, man. Your description of the somber tones in that room were absolutely vivid for such a dark tone. I'm sure you loved your grandfather very much enough to take the time to let us all know about how you felt about this. I had a great time reading this although all of the sadness built up in your writing.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I am very sorry for your loss. This is a great piece, the imagery and the use of words to convey the tone is well done. I also liked the message you've brought light upon, life is often filled with regret but life goes on and we must learn to enjoy every second of it.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for your loss, but I can relate because I lost my aunt sophomore year as well. Your usage of tone and imagery throughout the piece perfectly displayed how it feels to lose family.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for loss and I hope you will feel better as time passes. It was brave for you to share a personal story because I wouldn't have the nerve to put that out there. I've unfortunate enough to lose someone important in my life so far but I know everyone has to go through these tragic experiences at some point your life.
ReplyDelete-Ashley Sung
I admire your bravery to share such a personal story. I enjoyed all the imagery you used throughout the story, it captures all the little details which makes it easy to imagine the scenario and read it. You did a great job with explaining!
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant piece for a personal reflection. You had a nice rhythm throughout your piece with all of the precise imagery and tone you are showing. Excellent message and purpose. Thank you for sharing such a personal story for which I can relate to with the passing of both my grandfathers when I was young.
ReplyDeleteWow, I can relate to this so much. I have lost my grandfather and my grandmother as well. I have done some things that I do wish I could take back and do again like spend more time with my grandfather while he was at the hospital and spend time with my grandmother while she was devastated of his death. We all lose that special someone in our lives and we all take the news very differently than others. Thank you for sharing a story that is hard to tell others what its like and having to relive that time again to put into words. I have done the same. Great job.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the raw nature of your account. I know how hard it is to share our most personal moments but it is also incredibly important because these are the moments that are the most effective teachers. Your realization that “in order to learn something you must go through it first” is the perfect conclusion to your reminiscent piece. Thank you for sharing this moment of your life.
ReplyDeleteIt is very admirable and courageous of you to share such a personal story. I am sorry for your loss and am very impressed on how you have maintained such an enlightened perspective despite this tragic event. I am fascinated by the exceptional imagery you used in order to describe your grandfather and have learned so much on how I should appreciate my loved ones more. Thank you for sharing this wonderful story.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your loss, I can definitely relate to this. I'm so glad you shared this story with us even though it may have been hard for you. You really made me see how we should never take people we love for granted because you never know what could happen.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely relate your story especially how you were somewhat protected from the situation. I know for me when my half-sister died I was completely distraught and to this day I always regretted that I didn't talk to her as much as I should have. Thank you for sharing your story and the lesson you learned. Your grandfather would be very proud.
ReplyDeleteRaisa M.
Thank you so much for sharing such an experience, I cannot imagine how difficult it must be to reflect on the passing of a loved one. Although I have never personally experienced the death of a loved one, this piece really helped to give insight as to how it must feel. Your diction worked really well in this article, and added to the already high level of emotion. I also really liked how you included your cousin's reaction, because it helped to contrast the dismal tone for that little bit in the article.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I may not relate to this piece yet, I greatly appreciate you sharing such a deeply personal experience. The language you used was very easy to read, but lacked none of the emotion of your experience. Throughout this piece I saw your experience through your eyes and it's the best feeling whenever I read anything. I also liked the comparative reaction to death that you wrote about your cousin, because it accurately depicts how death does not affect all the same. Great work!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteRedo:
ReplyDeleteI think that your story really connected to what had happened to my family for about the past 3 years. On July 4th, 2014 my dog, who was born the same year as I was, 1999, died. I teared up knowing that I can't interact and play with him anymore. On July 3rd, 2015 my great aunt on my mother's side had passed away; however I, like your cousin, was not crying. I felt the sadness and the sorrow and I understood why everyone else was crying, but I could not bring myself to cry. There was another death, late on July 2016, where my great aunt and uncle died on the same day on my father's side. However, like what had happened in 2015 I did not cry, but maybe it was because I thought that after a death, they would have another chance in life and that they will always be able to watch over us.
I admire your bravery to share a personal experience like this and I am truly sorry for your loss. I myself have suffered the loss of a loved one; it was at the funeral of a loved one where I realized the true significance of losing someone very close to me. Reading this piece gives me hope and it provides a life lesson that I can learn from while giving off that connection that i can relate to. Great piece!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your story. I can't imagine the experience you had to go through. I have not yet to experience a loss of a close family member and I do not want too. But, it is something I'll have to go through one day. After reading your story, I have to love my family and value the things they have done for me. You're a very strong person and I am sorry for your loss. I hope things get better and thank you again for sharing your story.
ReplyDeleteYour story was very touching it must have been rough reliving the experience through this writing. Death affects everyone differently and we all have a unique experience with the subject. I can relate to the feelings and emotions portrayed in this piece, overall it was a very powerful story. While I was reading it I felt I was experiencing the same pain of the speaker. Thank you for sharing such a personal experience with us all.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your story it actually taught me a lesson to not just look past death as something that doesn't really matter. I actually can relate to this story since I lost someone in my family recently as well and it made me realize life is short. I also liked the imagery you used when you described the way that the wall color would smell like if it had a smell. Sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteThe topic of death is one that is often overlooked in order to avoid the truths that lay with it. Thank you for being courageous and strong enough to tell us not only your story, but your realization of regret. You brought to light the very same thing I learned when my uncle and cousin passed, and it made me think of how many join in to care for one another only once it is too late. Thank you for giving us all the opportunity to take a piece of your lives into ours.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this story because of how close to home it hit for me. Just recently, my family lost my great grandfather whom I didn't really know personally. But as I went to see him in his final moments before he passed away, I seemed to remember that no matter what, he was always smiling and making my family laugh. My family knew that his time was coming because of how old he was, but yet his death still hit them hard.I feel as if we never truly begin to recognize who we have lost and how important they were until we no longer have them with us. Thank you for sharing this story
ReplyDeleteWhat an exceptional piece that reminds us that we must appreciate our loved ones. Having personally suffered a loss at a young age, I know it is hard to experience and come to terms with that it really signifies. Thank you for reminding us to cherish our loved ones.
ReplyDeleteDarlene C.
Death can be a hard topic especially for people our age because majority of us have not experienced it first hand yet like you have. Your use of imagery when you said "It seemed very grim and if colors had a smell, it would smell like gray" helps put the situation into perspective for better understanding. This story made me think of when I lost my paternal grandmother in 2012. I was only 13 and did not know how to feel, I wanted to feel sad but I almost didn't know how. Now my grandmother on my mother's side is 87 turning 88 years old next month, I cherish her now more than ever because time is limited and your story helped me see that to be even more true. Thank you for sharing your story. Sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your piece for it was written very well with tons of details. It took me back to the emotional time when I lost my Papa. I was the first to find out, out of my whole family, this tragic information. Like your cousin, I did not know how to feel; I loved my Papa, but I think I was just in shock to feel any type of sadness. I do too regret not paying him the respect he deserved. Great piece!
ReplyDeleteThis was by far the most powerful and captivating piece I have read so far. I admire the courage you have to share such a deep and personal story and I am so sorry for your loss. I believe you should love the people that are close to you and mean something to you because you never know which day is their last. Not everyday is promised and it's not worth living in regret for something you should have or could have done. Thank you for sharing this personal story.
ReplyDeleteI admire the courage you mustered in sharing this story. Death teaches us to appreciate beauty of life. Unfortunately, death is a topic which will surround us as we grow. Eventually, it will approach us as this is the irreversible cycle of life. Death itself is inevitable but what matters is the mark we leave on the world while we still live. - Jerico Dizon
ReplyDeleteI cannot relate to your story at all. It gives me joy to know that you had a great grandfather you got along with. I think the best thing to do after a passing is to recap and be grateful for all the good memories you had with him. Reading the "grey" details really sets the mood. I can relate to your cousin who didn't show any sadness. For some reason, I didn't react to my grandpa's passing, like my relatives did. So I'm sorry for your loss; I can't imagine what that would feel like. Your story was greatly written! The emotions were there!
ReplyDeleteI applaud you for having the courage to share such a personal story. This can be a very hard topic to discuss and most would try to avoid but you didn't. This was very admirable. This also is a great reminder to everyone to not take life for granted. I am sincerely sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteYour decision of subject matter for your post is admirable, as I am certain it must have been difficult to write about a loss so personal and recent. The method by which you describe in detail the proceedings of the events that followed the day of your loss function effectively in allowing the reader to vividly experience to an extent the emotion and personal sensation you must have felt during that period. Additionally, the connection you made between your mother and then yourself being regretful for not having spent more time and shown more love for your grandfather greatly reinforces your message that we tend to overlook the people we value most in our lives, and thus we should show more appreciation for our loved ones with every opportunity of the present. As someone who lost my grandfather, the remaining image of my deceased father, in 2013, I wholeheartedly sympathize with the experience you've gone through and support your acknowledgment of acceptance and finding of inner peace.
ReplyDelete-Louis S.
Anthony that took some courage to write down and personally as a friend i'm offended you didn't tell me about unless you did and i forgot which makes me a jerk and i'm gonna seem like a jerk now as i critique this story. first of all the use imagery wasn't always spot on, yet that added to the sadness as to what death is. we've all experienced a death that affected us and those that have not surely will and when a loved one dies we remember it vividly yet vaguely, we alter parts of our memory each time we visit that time and some become vaguer while other aspects of it will be forever be chiseled into our minds as the "aura" of the whole situation was for you. whereas when describing your own feelings it felt lacking and needed a bit more description as it was your story. Yet it fits as when i lost a loved one as i tried describing my pain but all that came was an ache in my heart that was it yet there was much more than an ache in my heart and i'm sure more than, tears or regret and for some odd reason even though i feel the imagery could have been better the fact that it was struck a cord with me more than i get the feeling than it would have if it was a masterful author, dunno why though.
ReplyDeleteThanks for putting it down so beautifully. I am glad you and your family were able to say goodbye in a peaceful and constructive manner. I wish you and your family all the best in the time to come. I can relate to your story as my grandfather also passed away couple years ago. What I have learned is that we should not forget about our lost loved ones, and we should cherish all the moments or memories we had with them because people die twice, once when their heart stops, and again when people stop thinking about them. From your piece, I could tell that your grandfather lives on in you and your family's memories. And, that's all the afterlife anyone could ever need, to not forget and keep your memories with him alive!
ReplyDeleteThis was beautifully written. I was able to relate to this on a very personal level and would honestly like to thank you for writing this. It's always nice to know that someone has the same feelings. Though the passage seems to lack excessive descriptive details, I feel like it contributes even more to it's tone. Your writing very successfully put into words the confusing emotions that one would experience after a significant loss.
ReplyDeleteThis was beautifully written. I was able to relate to this on a very personal level and would honestly like to thank you for writing this. It's always nice to know that someone has the same feelings. Though the passage seems to lack excessive descriptive details, I feel like it contributes even more to it's tone. Your writing very successfully put into words the confusing emotions that one would experience after a significant loss.
ReplyDeleteWhen reading your story I could to relate to it in many ways. The way you described how your family was when you first walked in was very touching because I also have experienced a similar feeling when a family member passed away. I thought it was very good how you made color have a smell to put the mood of the house, also I felt as if your message that you were trying to convey was very deep and meaningful on how you to learn something you have to experience it first and death is one of its biggest teachers.
ReplyDeleteI loved every aspect of this. From personally loosing a grandparent myself, i believe you portrayed the proccess of a child handling a death perfectly. As a kid, you dont really know what's going on or how to tackle it. I really like the way you incorporated the life lesson you learned. It reflects how there is always some good in the bad. And yet, sometimes we seem to feel as if though the bad is the only thing to learn. I'm sure your grandfather is watching over you and is insanely proud of you. Great job.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing this personal anecdote. Though i cannot relate to your situation, the way you described the situation and the events that occurrd was so beautiful. Your use of detail was amazing and it very much helped in getting the reader to empathize with you.
ReplyDeleteThis situation is totally relatable and this is a life lesson everyone will ned to realize after a while, you worded the story so well and your detailing was impeccable I honestly teared up a little bit because I felt like I was in the same room as you as the events unfolded.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your bravery for sharing this part of your life. The details added to your description and narration of events mentally, the sorrow and confusion, and physically, the sight of death, really helped create a vivid imagery for the readers. Personally, I felt a connection within your emotional portrayal of death upon your grandfather as it made me reflect my past emotions I've experienced myself with a loved one I've lost.
ReplyDeleteThe way you described everything is very moving, I started tearing up because I am going through a similar situation. I am very sorry for your loss and I know your grandfather would agree with me when I say he loved you very much and I'm sure he is very proud of you. Your description of death was very accurate and it's very hard to come to terms with. I'm extremely impressed that you handled it so well. It takes a very strong person to handle something so terrible so well. I'm very, very sorry for your loss.
ReplyDelete- Lexa U
The level of sincerity along with your diction and imagery allowed me to easily follow along and evaluate my own experiences similar to that of your family's. A sentence that stood out is when you mentioned the gray color smelling like the aura of the room and I thought that was very odd because usually people don't associate colors with smells but it also allowed another way for us to relate to the experience. Also, there was a good amount of repetition in the piece, try to use synonyms for certain words. As you further go in depth about regret at the end of this piece, I think it signifies your growth along with realizing past mistakes and learning from them. Overall, I commend you for writing on such a difficult topic!
ReplyDeleteI offer my condolences for your loss. Although my grandparents passed away before I was born and I have never lost anyone close to me, it always makes me solemn when someone else I know loses someone. It also makes me regret it whenever I may have an argument or grudge against anyone I know, as there's always uncertainty to whether we may live another day or not. At the same time, I don't fear death but the scariest thing is our current position in front of God, if we've been blessed with another day from God we have to make matters right with ourselves, other people, and our surroundings. The whole process of death is quite surreal when we think of it, the experience of attending a funeral is somber and also surreal in a sense too. After reading your post I feel obliged once again to give my parents and other family members the respect they deserve so no regrets can linger when they will eventually pass on. As a Muslim the idea of death motivates me everyday to do good deeds and be sincere in order to receive the pleasure of God. Death is inevitable, it states in the Quran (Muslim holy book) that "Every soul shall taste death" (29:57). I feel that we shouldn't suppress and forget death as it will eventually happen, it depends when God wills for us to return back to him.
ReplyDeleteI really like the lesson that you learned and that you convey through this event in your life. I also liked the imagery that you used to describe the mood of the house, "... it would smell gray." Personally I can't relate to this narrative for I haven't had the unfortunate event of loosing someone dear to me, but it won't be very long. I know that life goes on even after death, but it is much more credible when a peer has experienced it firsthand. Thank you for sharing this with us.
ReplyDeleteAs awful as it is, death will always be apart of life, and I agree with you when you say that you can never truly understand something until you experience it. I felt like your use of anecdotes and imagery throughout the piece really allow me to feel your regret, grief, and love for your grandfather. Your loss was heartbreaking and although you will never have that part of your life again, I admire the fact that you were able to learn and grow from your situation.
ReplyDeleteMuch of your description throughout draws an almost numb gray feeling into detail and for most people who've experienced the post death phase of a family member don't realize at that moment those minor descriptions. Your title ties into this use of details as it reminded me as a reader the little things we look past until we experience a death and try to focus on anything other than what just occurred. The impacting feeling of loss and regret is felt like a strong punch whenever it is mentioned and the remorse shows just how human you are too. It's an overall relatable piece to those who've experienced about the same thing and for those who overlook the process of death.
ReplyDeleteMuch of your description throughout draws an almost numb gray feeling into detail and for most people who've experienced the post death phase of a family member don't realize at that moment those minor descriptions. Your title ties into this use of details as it reminded me as a reader the little things we look past until we experience a death and try to focus on anything other than what just occurred. The impacting feeling of loss and regret is felt like a strong punch whenever it is mentioned and the remorse shows just how human you are too. It's an overall relatable piece to those who've experienced about the same thing and for those who overlook the process of death.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, I would like to offer my condolences. It takes a lot of courage to be able to express the loss of someone of such value to basically strangers. Your description of your memories felt very vivid, as I could imagine them clearly occurring. Death and loss can be very difficult to write about, and the topic itself becomes depressing to read, but your presentation offers more than just a story, but a lesson learned because of it. I agree with the idea that a concept is not entirely understood until you put yourself through it, but this allows us to grow as people when we experience new views of life.
ReplyDeleteGreat work on the writing, it must have been a truly emotional experience for you to go through. First, I would like to applaud your ability to translate your emotions into words for a reader like me to understand. Losing any of your grandparents can be a traumatic experience, especially if you were close to them. It must have been very hard to recollect such a difficult moment in your life, and I admire the fact that you were able to turn your sorrow into a story like this. I have lost my grandpa as well, and the emotions you described are relateable. People who gave lost a loved one can relate to this story, and you allowed people to tap into their feelings as well. These experiences we go through can help us grow as individuals, and sometimes we try to push away the difficult memories when they can help the most. Wow, great moves Anthony. Keep it up. Proud of you.
ReplyDelete- Cody T.
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ReplyDeleteThe way in which you describe the situation was stellar. Even though it was not our own grandfather that passed, it feels as if it is. The diction you used has a very sad connotation, which allows the reader to feel what you felt that sad day. My own grandfather is still alive, but when he does pass away, I know that I will not be the only person who understands.
ReplyDelete-David K.
First I would like to thank you for sharing this personal story with us and I'm sorry for your loss. I can relate to this story because two years ago we had a close family friends who passed after her battle with cancer. As you did we all knew it was coming but wasn't expecting it. We were always being updated by her daughter, one of my close friends. We were on a short vacation to Vegas when we got the news of the passing. We were expecting the call not for another three months so it hit us pretty hard.
ReplyDeleteTo begin, I'm deeply sorry for your loss. This must have been something very difficult to undergo, but for you to be able to share something so personal, you're a very strong individual. This is truly an amazing read and I also went through the exact same thing a couple years back. People do fail to realize that death is so inevitable and even when you expect it the most during a difficult situation, it still shocks you when it does happen. I hope you find yourself doing well, you're a very excellent writer.
ReplyDeleteWow your piece really affected me. ..man it hit too close to home great piece.
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