My oldest memory is from my aunt’s wedding when I was three years old. I was the flower girl at the wedding. I remember standing outside the church, holding the flowers, not knowing what to do next, when my grandfather who was going to walk my aunt down the isle came up to me and started walking with me and showed me I had to throw the petals. When I knew what I had to do he turned around and went back to get my aunt.
Years later, when I was in elementary school, I wrote a story for school about my grandfather when we were on his boat one day. We had already anchored at the beach but my grandma said it was too deep. He said it was fine but, as usual, she insisted. To prove her wrong, he jumped in the water, only to sink into the water instead of immediately hitting the bottom. At this, my grandmother started screaming “Rafael!!! He’s going to drown!!”. As she’s screaming, my grandfather floats back up to the surface laughing.
I don’t know if I ever told him, but he is the reason I’m a writer. The first story I ever wrote, when I was in elementary school, was about him. That story about my grandfather was the moment I realized I wanted to be a writer.
Those are just two of my favorite memories of my grandfather, who sadly passed away early this morning.
Last time I saw him was on Thursday and I wanted to see him today, but now I wish I had seen him at least one more time. I wish I could tell him how much I loved him. He was one of my biggest cheerleaders, proudly introducing me as his granddaughter who survived the car accident and learned how to walk again. Now that I’m running he would always ask me when my next race was, how my last race went or he would tell me about when he ran in college.
He was one of my biggest cheerleaders and greatest role models. From being a loyal husband to my grandmother, responsible father to his four daughters, caring grandfather to his eight grandchildren, and loving us all unconditionally. I know my grandfather will be remembered by a lot of people, like his friends from high school who he still had lunch with sometimes, fraternity brothers, college friends, soldiers who served in the army with him, and everyone he worked with or for during his decades long career as an engineer and I just hope they all have as wonderful memories of him as I do.
Te quiero mucho abuelo,
Kiki ❤️
Unstoppable María 
Hermosos recuerdos! Siempre había una puerta abierta a todo el que quisiera entrar a la casa de tus abuelos!Tengo lindos recuerdos de mi adolescencia reuniéndonos allí y recordando su acogida con una sonrisa, de buen talante y con sentido del humor. Las despedidas son tristes pero que bendición su presencia en la vida de todos ustedes. Germie ( amiga de infancia de tu titi Marta)
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