Rhys's Grand-Dad

Rhys's Grand-Dad died last weekend.
We were up in Tully in July, because he had come pretty close to death then, and I was almost convinced that he and Ri's grandma would live together in a home in Tully for a few more years. The funeral was today, Ri has gone and I feel helpless, I want to be by his side, like I wanted to be at my mum's side when her sister, my aunty, died last December. But this degree, this bloody degree, sometimes it has to come first. My stomach sinks when I think about not being there at these times and I hope that in the future I do not regret my decision to stay behind.
I'd only met Ri's Grand-dad twice, Christmas 06 and July 08. He seemed like a strong man with a massive presence, even though I only knew him as a man who had suffered a stroke years before meeting him, a stroke that cost him physical mobility. He was an engineer, like Ri's dad is an Engineer, like Ri is an Engineer.
When we went to visit in July, Ri's grand-dad wasn't anywhere near as lucid as he was when I first met him in December 06. But there was a moment, when we were saying goodbye for the last time, that always brings tears to my eyes. Ri's grand-dad shook Ri's hand and in a moment of lucidity said "It was good to know you mate."

The last thing my Aunty said to me was that I was smart not to be getting married just yet. Ah in some things she was just like her damn sister.