Earlier today, my grandfather died in a hospital a few states away.

This wasn't unexpected, mind you. See, when I was on vacation at the beginning of this month, it was an out-of-state family reunion thrown by my grandparents to celebrate their 60th anniversary. My grandfather caught pneumonia early on, however, and had to be taken to the nearest hospital. He was there throughout the whole weeklong reunion and remained there even after everyone went home. My grandmother stayed to take care of him, with some of my other family members going there to be with her and support her during that time. He had other health problems far worse than pneumonia, however, which is partly why we didn't expect him to survive.

So when one of my aunts called earlier and told us he passed away . . . well, like I said, it wasn't unexpected. But it does hurt.

Not sure when the funeral is going to be. My grandfather is getting a military funeral because he was in the Air Force, but again don't know when that funeral will be, exactly. All I know is that life, as usual, goes on and will go on even after the funeral is done.

My grandfather was one of the toughest and kindest people I knew. Always quick with a smile and a joke. He was always supportive of me and my brothers and was a great person all around. I'll miss him terribly.

-TNTOS-