Sunday, August 26, 2007

Not at All What I Planned

Yesterday I ran around like a crazy person. I showered, vacuumed, & packed for our weekend with Jake's family and mine. At approximately 12:20 I pulled out of my driveway ready to make the 2 hour drive to where Jake's family lives to go to the wedding reception.

I was heading towards the interstate when at 12:25 my phone rang and everything changed.

Yesterday morning my Grandfather was driving down to southern Iowa to check the flooding in his pasture. He never made it. A semi pulled out in front of him and his entire truck went under the semi and came out on the other side ending up in a ditch. He was killed instantly. He was 87 years old and VERY alive and happy for his age.

He died heading to do one of the things he loved. Checking on his land down south, taking care of the cattle.

I have SO many things running through my head right now. I thought I would have more time with him. He wasn't sick. Why didn't I make more of an effort to see him since he lived so close? Why didn't I make more of an effort to take Zack to see him?

It's all for not. He is gone now and all we can do is move forward. From now on I will be making more of an effort to make sure that I take Zack to see his remaining great-grandparents. I may not get the vacuuming done on Saturday's (the reason I didn't go see Jake's grandma yesterday morning when she called) but I think some things might be more important than sweeping up cat hair.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, Heather.....I am so sorry for your loss.

Anonymous said...

absolutely - you are so right! make time for people - it's so hard to do this though, isn't it? we think we need clean houses etc but then it's easy to overlook time with people, which matters more! make the most of everyday - as my gran said - live this day as if it is your last.

so sorry to hear of your grandad...he died as you say doing what he loved...hold on to your special memories of time spent with him.

take care go gently x

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry for you loss.

Laura said...

I'm so sorry Heather :(

Erin the Bradley Teacher said...

Heather, I'm so very sorry for the loss of your grandfather. I'll be praying for your family to remember all of the wonderful times with him as you grieve together.

Anonymous said...

Oh man heather I am si Sorry! I am here if you ever need to talk! Love ya!!
Molly

Jessica said...

Dido - Let me know if you need anything!

spellconjurer said...

Heather I am also so sorry that you've lost your grandfather so unexpectedly. I have had both sides of the death of a grandparent. An unexpected, so sudden death. As well as watching my grandparents suffer a lengthy illness, declining and in pain. As empty as the sudden death left our family feeling, we came to realize it was our own grief we felt. We came to appreciate the lack of suffering the unexpected loss brought for our grandparent. It probably can't help now, but maybey someday you will see it that way too. It does remind us to treasure the time we do have with our families. My own grandmother died of a stroke 8 years ago. I sadly thought that she and I were not close all my life. After she was gone, I started to "remember" things differently and actually miss her more as the years go by. Wish I could ask her questions about all sorts of things in life. Family and friends which feel like family, I don't really see what else is that important in life. Especially in the end.

OMH said...

Oh Heather - I am praying for you and your family! May God wrap his arms around y'all and help you through this time.

Let me know if there are any specific prayer request or needs that I can meet from so far away.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Anonymous said...

Sorry about your grandpa. You and your family are in my prayers!

Creative Genius? said...

Oh I am so sorry for your loss!!!

Anonymous said...

Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time.

Bird's Eye View Photography said...

Your post made me cry. Even though I of course heard about this right after you did. I am so sorry-

I will be at the visitation tonight.

lonna said...

Heather, I'm so sorry for your loss. What a jolt. When my grandfather died it was sort of a surprise. He had been sick, but we thought he was getting better. I found that his loss was so much harder on me than losing my grandmother. I will never know if it's because he went first, if it's because his was a surprise, or if it's because I had a baby to help hold me together when my grandmother passed. But just in case it's the last one let Zack help keep you focused and let him help you heal. It was wonderful to be tending to a 7 month old while I was also grieving my grandmother because there times when only Dermot mattered and I could avoid my grief. Good luck.

Tink said...

Oh no! I'm so sorry! ((HUG)) At least it was sudden. He died happy and healthy and with the love of great family. You and yours are in my thoughts.

Jessica said...

SOOOO.....Could your next post be called "Not at all what I had planned - Again or Part II"?

:)