Goodbye Pop’s…
…words I am struggling to write and sadly clearly unable to speak!
I love you so much and hope I said it enough or at least showed it enough to let you know just how much I did.
 
Dementia slowly took you away from us over the last several years and it upsets me often that I can’t even remember the last real conversation that I had with you.
…What was it about?  …What did you say?  …What did I say?  ...I have no idea!
 
What I can remember though, is the undivided love and attention that you always gave me.  No matter what it was, if I needed it, you were there moments later, with no hesitation.  You showed me how to do things, you gave me the confidence to do things myself, or you just did things for me.
 
I also remember the fun things you did, from your silly pranks or your daft humour.  Often pretending to steal someone’s beer or blow out candles on one of your grandchildren’s cakes.  Always messing around at the dinner table or at some social gathering….mum was probably not amused but I know your sons and grandchildren usually were!
 
I remember your skill at DIY, I see it all over the place.  You are everywhere, from the carpets you laid, furniture you made, pipes you connected, pictures you hung, doors you fitted,….you are everywhere I go!
 
I can remember your activeness, playing table tennis with me for hours, building sandcastles on the beach, climbing the mountain with us every year on holiday.  You always had so much energy and even had a short game with me just a few months ago.
 
I will never forget you coming to watch me play football almost every week.  You did this without fail, up until just a few years ago.  You were my biggest fan (and I was yours)!
 
Another distant memory is that of your favourite saying, ‘Blinking eck’.  (Everyone will remember that).  It was a curse word to you, something only you said that meant a variety of things, depending on the context at the time, but to us, it was another fond piece of our favourite man.  Alzheimer’s took these words from you many moons ago, but we all still remember.   I can hear you saying it now!
 
Your devotion to your grandchildren was also special to me and to them.  You laughed and joked with them just like you did when Carl and I were young (just a few years ago).  I know they all loved you too and enjoyed the silliness that you brought to their lives.  Even with your illness, they could still see that shine through when others couldn’t.
 
You were a great, loving, kind, cheeky, funny and enormously special man, an amazing Husband, Father, Grandfather and Great Grandfather.  Everyone you connected to will remember you with great fondness.  I will simply remember you as my Pop’s!!
 
…..Love you forever!     Beunos Noches Pop’s