Grandpa, have you and Grandma met again?

I usually find myself thinking of this since Grandma went to heaven, whether she meets you.

I think she does, and I bet you two are united in the afterlife.

Just thinking of it makes me happy and relieved that when we part ways with the person we love in this life, it doesn’t mean that the relationship will end at that point.

It doesn’t mean they and we will never find happiness again, either. If anything, it means changes.

And changes can be hard to accept at first, but changes don’t equal bad things.

They can be new opportunities, new experiences, and new hopes.

Today marks the day you went to heaven, Grandpa.

Dad doesn’t remember your face very well since you were gone when he was three years old—the age when ones know who’s special to them, when they find it easy to love when someone cares for them deeply, and also when they are easy to get used to the absence of ones that got away. 

I don’t know your face. 

I wish we had at least a photo of you. 

But perhaps, because we don’t, we think of you and remember you even more. 

Like the ways we pay attention to Grandma’s stories about you. 

We never lose our curiosity about you, Grandpa. 

We asked Grandma nonstop about zillions of things about you, like how you two met, what you look like, what she loves about you, and how you won her heart. 

Now when I think of it, my Grandma was indeed patient with us. 

If I were her, I would have felt bothersome and even jealous at some point for not getting that much attention from my ask-everything-on-their-mind grandchildren.

We never got to see you in this life, but don’t you worry, Grandpa.

We found ways to remember you vividly and proudly. 

Grandma never lies to us, and we know from our instinct that she has great taste and high standards. 

It’s hard to see her give a compliment to someone or something unless they are exceptionally good.

But Grandpa, do you know what Grandma told us about you?

She said you looked so fine.

You were a great soul.

Life gives up on your health, but you didn’t. But you were just so brave. You fight your disease every day. You made Grandma and your children happy every day. You cherished every moment you were given.

I feel proud whenever I come back to this memory.

“So my Grandma and my Grandpa are great people inside and out.”

And even though Grandpa and Grandma didn’t have much time with each other in this life, I can see that they have been happy and appreciated every single moment they spent with each other.

Perhaps that’s a friendly nudge you gave us about Quality vs. Quantity. Such a powerful lesson yet usually neglected.

Now that you two have united, I know for sure that nothing can separate you. 

Grandparents, I don’t know when we will meet you again. 

Still, regardless of its length, we’ll make sure to live this life to the fullest.

So when we meet you there, we can proudly share with you how we enjoy our given time and be ready to build a great home with you in the afterlife.

Till we meet again!

P.s. Ehem! Your grandchild painted this herself. Isn’t it pretty?