What a difference a year makes

I was having a conversation with a much younger person the other day and as the "old person" I told them that it's true what us old folks say about time. It does appear to move faster the older you get.

I'm not sure when it goes into hyper-drive. Looking back I guess it was mid 30's. Now I can't believe it's April!

Well, it was just over a year ago that I lost my grandfather. It was a tough loss because in many ways, he was more of a father to me. Certainly the predominant male figure in my life although I have a strong and continuous relationship with my father who lives in Missouri. Gramps was always nearby though.

The thing I always envied about him was his mellow demeanor. He always seemed to have a smile and a spring in his step. Even though he grew up in the depression and had an alcoholic father, he found a way to survive. Even when he found himself having to deal with grand kids moving in, he accepted it, and made the best of it.

He was a self made man, becoming a piano tuner and starting his own business despite having only a 9th grade education but believe me, he was street smart! He never made a fortune but he always seemed to have what was needed. It pained me to see him wither the last few years. Mostly, it was watching him realize what was happening and not liking it very much. Still, in between the bad days, there was that boyish charm.

In many ways he was the quintessential American story.

So, now a year has passed. Every now an again I see something that stops me in my tracks and I think of him. Both a tear and a smile come to me. Where did that year go?

I once watched an episode of Kung Fu. "Grasshopper" had returned to the city of his Master and upon being asked how life was, his reply was, "The years are passing slowly" and you knew he meant that was good.