Unfortunately, he passed away unexpectedly about a week before my birthday this past summer, May 2016. But while he may not be around to accompany our father in walking us down the aisle one day, he will forever be our guardian angel.
Sometimes we don’t truly appreciate someone until they’re gone. My advice is to make an effort to spend time with those people in your life, the elders that care about you unconditionally. Let them know how special they are.
It’s easy to make excuses about life getting in the way, but one can always make time for what you want to make time for.
Unlike them, your social calendars will be around as long as you are.
One of the biggest regrets many of us have is that we did not tell someone how much they meant to us before it was too late.
Don’t make that mistake.
There will never be a perfect time, say it now and say it often. Tomorrow is guaranteed to no one.
I have yet to stop tears from running down my face every time I think of my Pappou, but an important lesson from Dr. Seuss ...
“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
So much of the person that I am today is because of my Pappou. I still can’t imagine life without him here, but I am honored that he was my Pappou, and I will be forever grateful that I had him in my life for as long as I did.
Rest in peace, Pappou.
Photo by George Kasiar