I can still hear him sometimes,
Laughing and telling jokes,
Or crying and hugging us,
It sometimes feels as though he is here,
Walking beside me and offering advice,
Pushing me when I stop to quit,
Helping me up when I stumble and fall,
I never see him but I sense he is there,
I know he is long gone but feel him around,
I know I need to say goodbye but it is hard,
He meant so much to me and now he is gone,
Well, here it goes, bye grandpa and I love you still.


My grandpa died when I was 18.  I was fresh in the Army and in my advanced individual training.  It hit me pretty hard as anyone who was there with me can tell you.  If it hadn't been for my classmates I don't know how I would have gotten through it.  Those of you reading this know who you are thank you.  I ended up getting kicked out of that class and put in a later one, which pissed me off horribly.  I wrote this while I was waiting on a new class to open up, and submitted it for publication.  Very few people have seen this, it is very close to my heart and I decided to share it with those of you who know me, and those who don't just to give you a little insight as to what I'm like.