discardia

The power of the human mind is extraordinary. Chew on this:

At the Fourth of July, my wife commented that her Grandfather did not look to good. Which is not surprising considering about four years ago, he had really bad hospital scare. Most of the family thought he was going to pass on. In fact, I remember many of my wife’s family saying it was going to happen within the week. Grandpa was a lifelong smoker, diabetic, and definitely not in the best of health. He had pneumonia something fierce and the doctors told Grandma that he was in the final stages of critical emphysema.

But he walked out. On an oxygen bottle… but he walked out nonetheless. He stopped smoking, and for a while he got better.

At the Fourth, my wife said he looked a bit off. I agreed… he did not look his best. She mentioned that their 50th wedding anniversary was coming up in August. She hoped that he would make it… she said he was looking forward to it.

I replied that with many people it is all about determination. That if they have something to live for they continue to live. We talked about my wife’s Great Grandma that was put into a nursing home. Before she was moved in by her kids, she had had her own house, baked pies everyday, and was very active. But after they moved her, she just gave up. She died within the year.

I have heard of other examples of it to. My mom told me that my grandmother died in much the same way. I have heard

Well Grandpa made it to his Anniversary on Saturday without much issue. He had his party, saw all of his kids and grand kids, and great-grand kids. He had his picture taken with the family, he ate his cake and made his jokes. Heard a funny poem written by his youngest son about his long marriage and raising the kids. Saw friends, ate, drank, and was merry. He lingered and talked with his kids as much as he could.

And that night he died.

We don’t know why. But I can venture a guess.

He decided to.

In some fashion, he knew.

Scary.