Forgotten Hope Public Forum

Off-Topic => Off-Topic => Topic started by: luftwaffe.be on 31-03-2014, 03:03:21

Title: Getting an ice-cream with my grandfather ..
Post by: luftwaffe.be on 31-03-2014, 03:03:21
Today me and my father went to pick up my grandfather for eating an ice-cream at our home. My grandfather is a really nice guy: he’s the kind of guy who’d bake pancakes or pies if he receives visitors. He has the respectable age of 95 and is a WWII veteran .  My dad visits my grandfather twice a week, I try to do so every Sunday. Since he has a sweet tooth, we go and eat ice-cream allot during the weekends.

This Sunday, that is no different. We go to his house, have a little shit-chat inside, he changes into his good clothes to get outside,  and then go outside to get some ice-cream. My dad gets into my grandfather’s car which is parked a bit further away, in order to move it closer so that my grandfather doesn’t need to walk that far to get into the passenger seat. The car is only parked like 15 meters away from the front door, so it’s not really a big deal.

As my father is driving the car backwards, my grandfather  suddenly collapses. He doesn’t give a sound he just drops on the sidewalk with his eyes closed and not breathing. We instantly called the emergency services, and gave him a heart massage. Aside from one little cough after a minute or so, he did not make a single sound. The emergency services tried to reanimate him, in vain.

The effect of being powerless at such moment is indescribable. He was in good health and did not have any known problems. I’m not as much in shock that he is no longer with us, then I am that he just dropped dead  like a lifeless puppet. One minute your are talking to him, going for an ice-cream and while you are waiting for a car to get nearer, he just drops dead on the spot. Me and my dad are tough guys, but we haven’t cried as much as today I think.

He was a good man, who’s time had come on this planet. But, darn, having someone dying in your arms is quite a shocking experience .   

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/John1987/IMG_0031_zps98002c1a.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/John1987/media/IMG_0031_zps98002c1a.jpg.html)

His stuff that we got back from the hospital. Notice how his watch is already set on the summertime ..

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/John1987/IMG_0227_zps42740dfa.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/John1987/media/IMG_0227_zps42740dfa.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Getting an ice-cream with my grandfather ..
Post by: Captain Pyjama Shark on 31-03-2014, 03:03:30
I'm so sorry for your loss.  I can't imagine how it must have felt in that moment.  At least it was sudden and painless, and he spent his last moments with his family.  He was clearly very well-loved. 
Title: Re: Getting an ice-cream with my grandfather ..
Post by: LuckyOne on 31-03-2014, 09:03:30
That's really sad, my condolences for your loss. He seems like a nice person. Though it's better to die a painless death, surrounded by your family than spend years suffering in a hospital, it's still shocking when it comes so suddenly. Be happy for the time you got to spend with him, some people (including me) never had the chance to meet their grandfathers. I'm sure he's in a nice place now, hanging out with his old friends.
Title: Re: Getting an ice-cream with my grandfather ..
Post by: Zoologic on 31-03-2014, 12:03:42
My condolences luftwaffe.

I am sure he lived his last days full of happiness, accompanied by you and your dad. He died remembering all the good times you people had. He died happy and he is in better place now.
Title: Re: Getting an ice-cream with my grandfather ..
Post by: THeTA0123 on 31-03-2014, 17:03:38
My condolences my friend. It is always sad to hear such news. Did he told you many stories regarding WW2? Write it all down. While you can remember it well. Then later on, you can tell your children or cousins or who else. That way you can honour his legacy
Title: Re: Getting an ice-cream with my grandfather ..
Post by: Graf_Radetzky(CZ) on 31-03-2014, 20:03:02
My deepest condolences for your loss Luftwaffe. I cannot even imagine such sudden moment, as you wrote it must have been utterly shocking. You ought to remind yourself that he lived to such a great age, in a vital condition and most importantly beloved by his family.
Title: Re: Getting an ice-cream with my grandfather ..
Post by: PanzerKnacker on 31-03-2014, 21:03:55
Wow...that's really shocking. Sorry for your loss Luftwaffe, that must've been terrible to wittness and feel. He is in a better place now, and at least he died happy, the image of a cheerful chat with his son and grandson is the last which he will remember. I think that's good :)
Title: Re: Getting an ice-cream with my grandfather ..
Post by: Oberst on 31-03-2014, 22:03:54
My condolences. It seems to be hard to imagine the helplessness. Also seeing someone die in your arms is a very very terrific thing. My grandfather, to whom I had a very close connection died after long suffering. Slowly he lost his memory and every ability to the point, where he couldn't do anything but lie in bed. So I saw it as a kind of relief, also for my grandmother, who cared for him day and night and suffered herself. She recovered quickly after his death and is very active again.
Title: Re: Getting an ice-cream with my grandfather ..
Post by: Born2Kill 007 on 31-03-2014, 22:03:31
My most sincere condolences. But as said before, it is probably the best death one could think of. So many people get terribly lonely when they get old, to then die after a lengthy disease. He died with his family that loved him, and in such a quick way he didn't have to suffer long, or didn't even had the scary idea of "my days are numbered". Good luck in the mourning
Title: Re: Getting an ice-cream with my grandfather ..
Post by: NTH on 31-03-2014, 22:03:26
Sorry for your loss, Lufty. He sounds like a great and warm person.
Title: Re: Getting an ice-cream with my grandfather ..
Post by: Surfbird on 31-03-2014, 22:03:26
My condolences, Luftwaffe. This is very sad, but he got very old and was still doing rather good in that age it seems. Passing away around family members was surely better than passing away alone at home for him. The shock of seeing somebody pass away just like that is probably not easy to deal with, so I hope you are going to recover from this soon and then have all the nice memories about him in mind.
Title: Re: Getting an ice-cream with my grandfather ..
Post by: Mayhemic.MAD on 31-03-2014, 23:03:34
My condolences as well. I hope you find relief in the knowledge that he did not have to endure prolonged suffering and that this also spared your family from all the worries. It´s sad to lose someone close, but it is a part of life.
Both my grandfathers did not find an easy departure, which I wish they would have been spared from, after an already hard life.
I also had my beloved cat die in my arms some years ago after she was hit by a car right next to me, which shocked me deeply. I can not imagine what it would mean to be helpless next to your family and can´t even think about it too much :'(
Keep him alive in your stories.
Title: Re: Getting an ice-cream with my grandfather ..
Post by: VonMudra on 01-04-2014, 00:04:00
Damn :(  I'm really terrible, deeply sorry for your loss.  As has been said earlier, at least he went happy and with his family there with him.  I'm sure all of us here would love to hear his story btw, you did mention he was a vet. :)
Title: Re: Getting an ice-cream with my grandfather ..
Post by: 69rat on 01-04-2014, 00:04:59
sorry for your loss. best wishes to you and your family.
Title: Re: Getting an ice-cream with my grandfather ..
Post by: Tuco on 01-04-2014, 01:04:51
When its your time, its your time.
God bless.
Title: Re: Getting an ice-cream with my grandfather ..
Post by: Fuchs on 01-04-2014, 14:04:54
My condolences. Find solace in the fact he had a long and, presumably with the mentioning of ice cream, happy life and that he had the blessing to finally pass without much suffering. Best of luck in the coming period, hope you can find it within yourself to share his life story with us.
Title: Re: Getting an ice-cream with my grandfather ..
Post by: MaJ.P.Bouras on 01-04-2014, 15:04:27
I bet he is licking his ice cream right now in the afterlife watching over you and your relatives. You'll get an ice cream together again someday. My condolences.


Also keep the tradition of going for ice cream with your father. Buy an extra one and give it to a stranger.
Title: Re: Getting an ice-cream with my grandfather ..
Post by: Fuchs on 01-04-2014, 19:04:45
Buy an extra one and give it to a stranger.
Not a five year old girl, I repeat, not a five year old girl.
Title: Re: Getting an ice-cream with my grandfather ..
Post by: Roughbeak on 01-04-2014, 19:04:40
Extremely sorry for your loss, he looked like a very nice veteran and grandfather alike. Best wishes to you and your family.
Title: Re: Getting an ice-cream with my grandfather ..
Post by: th_battleaxe on 01-04-2014, 20:04:44
My most sincere condolences, Luftwaffe. At least it happened when he was doing something he enjoyed.

Best to go quickly, instead of gradually getting worse, like my grandfather did.

Veel sterkte.
Title: Re: Getting an ice-cream with my grandfather ..
Post by: Slayer on 04-04-2014, 21:04:09
Sorry to hear, man. Ook van mij veel sterkte voor jou en je familie.
Title: Re: Getting an ice-cream with my grandfather ..
Post by: Ciupita on 05-04-2014, 03:04:44
My most sincere condolences, Luftwaffe. At least it happened when he was doing something he enjoyed.

Best to go quickly, instead of gradually getting worse, like my grandfather did.

Veel sterkte.

Couldn't probably have said it better. My deepest condolences.
Title: Re: Getting an ice-cream with my grandfather ..
Post by: Gezoes on 18-04-2014, 15:04:13
Hou je taai Luft, hij had in ieder geval een prachtig lang leven. Veel sterkte toegewenst.