I feel the need to write a few words because i never want his memory to fade. Keeping those we love alive in our hearts and minds is something that we all inevitably have to do in this world and for me this weekend is one when it is my turn to reflect and remember.
This sunday it is 10 years since i lost my grandfather. Many of you know the influence he has had on my life and so will realise the impact of moments like these. It is a strange thing to think that it has been 10 years since i saw him, it feels like only moments ago. The last time i saw him was not good. The Alzheimers had taken its toll. He was not the man i choose to remember him as. The strong happy man that made me who i am today. It was his time.
I had to see him that day because i was leaving to work in Denmark and i knew in my heart that it would be the last time i would see him alive. 4 days later i had an early morning call and before i even picked up the phone i knew what it was. I dreaded picking the phone up but it was an inevitability.
I remember coming home and everything felt different, like my world had changed, like the arms that were always around me were gone.
Since that day my world was different and i felt a need to live up to a mark, to make him proud. I truly hope and pray that i do.

I will never truly live up to his standard, he was one of the ones that did all who live today a favour and stood up when he was asked, he would never admit to being a hero, but he was. He served in the Royal Navy and was involved from the start of WWII to its finish and beyond. He served in every theater of the war from Dunkirk to Murmansk and the Russian convoys to Malta,Italy,Africa and Burma. He survived the battle with the Tirpitz and was rescued from torpedoed vessels on more than one occasion. Yet,when pestered by a proud grandson to regail him with stories of heroism he would simply point out that he did his duty and nothing more.

My history won't say the same of me but i hope that he still would smile.
On so many levels grandad i need to say thankyou. I owe you more than you could know and more than i could ever repay and i will never ever let your memory fade as long as i live. Be well wherever you are.

R.I.P. Francis William Peter Selden KX 89245.


[Edited 2/2/07 14:50pm]

I am sure that he smiles down upon you every day!!!!

I bet he was as proud of you as you are of him.

I will never tire of our talks about him

He is always with you

Love to you my friend


Mach

great pic btw.

My great grand mother passed away on Feb 9th 2002 a day after her 97th birthday.
I still think of her every day- she left me with so much in my heart to think about and aspire to some day.


It is great that you are remembering and honoring his spirit. Keeping him alive in your heart is a wonderful thing. Thanks for sharing with us.




On the 9th I will be remembering my Mom-Mom Tweed.

What an amazing tribute. He would be VERY proud Phil.



M

Cheers mate he would be proud of all the diverse pathways that you have created in life.

karmatornado said:

he would. and he knew what a good man you were before he died, and that you'd continue to be one.

Thankyou to all of you.

Ofcourse he's proud of you Phil... Look what a beautiful soul you are..
You're such a kind man.. full of good intention.. ( you must have that from your Grandpa )







Oh and off topic.. I passed my theory- motorexam yesterday 46 out of 50 questions correct ( )
[Edited 2/3/07 0:40am]

Great read, mate

mdiver said:

as always ... my pleasure

How'd I miss this.

Your Grandfather will be proud to love you and vice versa

Unfortunately BOTH my grandparents are in hospital now.. My Grandad at 92 a war survivor and my Grandma for loving my Grandfather too much went into hospital this week..

But a touching thread and our grandparents are the foundations of a good strong family life..
















.
[Edited 2/3/07 10:50am]

REDFEATHERS said:

Thank you REDFEATHERS, i hope that they are both soon back in the fold of the family, my thoughts and prayers are with them and your family.
Be well

lovely
You should be proud, and I know he would be.

Very moving. Alas I never knew either of my Grandfathers. They passed away before I was born.

JDINTERACTIVE said:

This made me realize it's been ten years since my grandmother died. It was February 2007, but I can't recall the day, as I she died when I was having a great fever, which turned worse when I heard the news. I was living in a blur for two weeks at the time.

Your grandfather was a very strong man. We've talked about it, and should continue doing that. Much of our happiness was won by heroes like him.

Big kiss to you, Phil.

xxx

MarieLouise said:

We have, and we will, for all their sakes. Thank you dear friend

mdiver, my heart goes out 2 u.
im sure your granddad was very proud of you, it sounds like you loved him very much.
watching someone you love suffer from alzheimers must have been very hard on you.
my only surviving grandparent, my nan, has dementia, and that is hard enough.

i lost my pop 10 years last july, and still miss him deeply. i spent all my school holidays with my nan & pop, and even when i was older, and working, id still often spend my holidays with them. one of my most prized possessions is a ring my pop & nan gave me on my 21st birthday. we were shopping together one day and stopped outside a jewellery shop. inside i saw an amethyst ring (my birthstone) and jokingly said to my pop, "hey pop, thats what i want for my 21st birthday, start saving". i didnt even give it another thought, but the next day (unbeknownst 2 me),he went and laybyed that ring, and gave it to me on my birthday several months later - i was gobsmacked! the stone fell out at work a few years ago, and i bawled all day.

when i started going out with my boyfriend (now husband), the only person who i truly wanted to like him was my pop (he, b/f already knew my dad, no probs there!)- lucky for me they got on like a house on fire.

he passed away after surgery to correct an anuresium, very traumatic for our family, but at least he didnt suffer.

his 10 yr anniversary came just 3 months after i lost my dad to cancer, so this anniversary was hard on all my family.

while he is still in my heart, his memory will live on forever. i love u pop

for all those with grandparents still alive give them lots of

im having trouble reading the screen, this whole thread is very moving.

red feathers
[Edited 2/3/07 16:24pm]

Thank you to everyone for all your words and sentiments they mean a lot to me. I went to see him this morning and raised a glass with him.
It may be a little wierd but i also wrote a letter and enclosed a copy of this thread, so you all shared today with both him and me.

Thank you again.

mdiver said:

Thanks for including us. True friends are there through the good times and the sad times- Always!!

mdiver said:

i don't think it's weird at all, and like val said, thank you for including us.

mdiver said:

Wow...