When one door closes....

....another door opens. Its sort of a motto in our family.


I feel more collected now that I had a day to finally absorb the news, its still always a disbelief when you hear those words that your loved one is gone, in fact, as much of a cliche as it sounds it really just feels like a nasty nightmare that you wish so hard to wake up from because you've had that nightmare before and it hurts just the same. I thank all of you for your thoughtful comments and just being in your thoughts in general. I hope this doesn't have a long lasting negative effect, I really just want to move on because I am already filled with anxiety about my Grandmother who is now alone.

The father figure that raised me since I was a baby passed away suddenly yesterday afternoon.

In 2008, my Grandfather beat lung cancer and walked away with only one lung. It was a struggle, but his wife was always there taking care of him and kicking him in the ass to want to be well.

In 2011 he lived through a bypass surgery and with the consistent help and care of his loving wife, he even beat the hospital time post surgery which was the second worst hospital visit in his life. A true testimate to how terrible and apathetic hospitals are when caring for elderly people.

Up until his last day, he was driving him and his wife to Arkansas from Texas to visit family, took his wife to the casinos like they would back in the days before any hospital visits. Lived life to the fullest of his capabilities. Always had a smile on his face and truly loved life and loved his family.

He was always proud of me no matter what decisions I chose in life. Because he knew that even if it wasn't a smart choice, I will quickly learn from it and grow as a person and it was because of him and my grandmother that I am able to make the intelligent decisions that help make my life just a little bit easier on me.

As old as I am, I was always happy to gush about what new thing I am up to and what new artwork I have successfully crafted.

He is the reason why I chose the Coast Guard over any other branch when I made the important decision to join the military. He always talked about how wonderful the Coast Guard is all my growing up, and yet he never served in that branch lol. He was Air Force but like many fellow military people, they always say how they wish they went Coast Guard instead. He is the reason why I love marketing and products and packaging and why I went to college for Graphic Design. Growing up in that positive environment had very profound affects in my life. I always took his opinions and life advice very seriously and I feel that it has gotten me to where I am today, not just in the military, but as a person and always hope that I can take a little bit of his wonderful traits and employ that through myself.

I will always live with the regret that I hadn't seen him in two years due to my job and having to live and move across the country.

You would have liked him a lot. I have yet to meet someone who didn't like him.

I hope that I too can be a positive factor in other peoples lives when they need it most just like he was for me.