My Biggest Fan

I have been dreading writing in this blog for the last ten days. The reason is because I started it for my grandfather. Literallly. I knew it was a way he could find enjoyment in my life; I knew he would read it; and I knew my entries would give him something to do and bring him joy. This was reaffirmed whenever I spoke to him on the phone and he would say, "when are you going to write in your blog? It's been a while!" He was indeed, my biggest fan. He asked me multiple times to explain to him how to comment on my blog. I tried to tell him, but it was so daunting and complicated that I was never able to make him understand, and he was never able to figure it out. But, everytime I wrote an entry, I would talk to him on the phone and he would address the entry.

My grandfather died on January 12, 2010. He was three weeks shy of his 95th birthday. He died in his sleep. The day before he died, he went to the Senior Center, did his exercises, came home, had lunch with my Nonna; then someone came and took him to the local library. He went home and had dinner with Nonna and then they watched t.v. When Nonno decided it was time for bed, he concluded the day by talking with Nonna about the friends they were supposed to meet the next day. He had helped a lady get a visa for the US fifty years ago - someone who couldn't get a visa - he figured out a way - he was supposed to meet her niece who was visiting Utah and had requested to meet them. The day after that he had a teaching session scheduled with someone to work with them on Italian, and a chess match that night. He had no clue he was leaving this world. And what family member could ask for more than that for a loved one? He often said, "I'm not afraid to die. I'm afraid to live." And he meant he was afraid to live after he lost all of his functions. And he never lost any of them. He died sharp as a tack, physically doing the best he could to get around, stimulate his mind and enjoy life.

I will continue to write in this blog. However, I doubt an entry will go by when I won't think of him and wish he were reading it. He was, after all, my biggest fan . . .