No More Compliments From Those Who Were There

[Gene]

See, both of my grandparents were sharp as tacks until the days they died. My grandma had the best memory in the world; she could tell you what she wore, what the weather was like, and who she talked to on April 3, 1948. Not exactly, but her vivid recollections astounded me, and I know she loved to talk about it because I think I was one of the few of her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren that actually cared.

My grandpa was the same way, although in the last few months he seemed to only remember what he wanted to. He never told my mom, aunt, or uncle or anyone else anything about the war but he took me on his knee and let me feel the shrapnel in his hand from flak during Operation Varsity he "got himself Purple Heart 'fer."

It was a personal connection to the past I'm proud of having and I hope I can do justice to this and future generations of carrying on their legacies!

 

[Shangas]

It's very common for the surviving spouse to pass in short order of the first. My folks left within ten months of each other a couple years ago.They were 92 and 84. I firmly believe that my dad would have lived a decade longer had his younger sweetie not left him. Still, they has a nice sixty year run.

That's not always the case. My grandfather died in 1983. My gran's still alive and kicking (well...alive at least) nearly 30 years later. The Queen Mum survived over 50 years after her husband died.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

My great-grandpa lived for 20-some years after my great-grandma died.

 

[Benny Holiday]

My condolences on the passing of your very special Grandma Gene. I know exactly what you're talking about, and I think about it often. It's always struck me as terribly ironic that not long after my Dad passed away I really became interested in the Golden Era, the time and style he grew up in and with. In some ways its like we almost belong (aesthetically at least) to that older generation, that there's a connection there to their values and ideals in many instances in contrast to those we see in 'modern' society.