Monday, February 8, 2010

a life worth laughing about...

I found myself thinking of my paternal grandfather the other day, what a happy, full of life kind of man he was... Actually I have been very fortunate to have had both sets of my grandparents around growing up, all beautiful people...so much I have learned from them...

For some reason my thoughts took me back to the day he passed away many years ago, I was in my teens back then. What I remember most about that day, as we rushed over there after receiving a phone call from my grandmother that morning saying that he had flown away... was all the happy memories we shared and the amount of laughing we did that day. As a young girl I thought it very strange... that having had just lost a man we all loved so much, a man who had given us so much joy throughout our lives... we should be sad and hurting.... But instead as we sat there for hours that day with family around, and with all the tears we shed..we laughed more that day then on so many happier occasions... We remembered his happy character, and all the funny things he did just to make us all laugh.... He was a very kind man, loving, patient, loved animals, he was a Veterinarian, he also had an amazing talent with building things out of metal. The sound of him working in his shed, as he pounded the hot metal into shapes still rings in my ears and gives me that warm feeling you get with certain memories from your childhood. He was also very much in love with my grandmother...who was a very free spirited woman that loved to sing and when she smiled with her round, pink cheeks it brightened my grandfathers face.... Perhaps that is where we learn how to love, when we see it at our young age in it's raw form.... and there is much we learn as children by observing our surroundings...

I think young souls benefit so much from spending time with the older generation, their stories and experiences shared are life long lessons that stay with us in our hearts. Each memory I think back on touches my soul and the love that's there is so solid. All our children should be as lucky to have that sweet time with their grandparents, it really does enrich our lives...

Now, as an adult when I think back to that day, I understand more than ever why we laughed so much even though our hearts were in pain.... This man had seen much sorrow and pain in his life, lost family at a young age during the Armenian Genocide, had gone through much hardship in his adult life, but still smiled and laughed every opportunity he had...and also brought much joy to everyone around him. That was him... it was the whole of his life... that is what he had left us with...
A simple man, yet in our eyes and hearts a man of greatness... After all isn't that how we all want to be remembered? We should strive to live this way, give joy and love to others as well as find it within ourselves... I would consider myself very lucky if on the day I fly away...my family will have so much to laugh about.
As hard as things have been, loosing my husband, especially with the circumstances...him being so young and the illness that consumed him in the end... with all the pain we feel, we have laughed a lot still, much happiness was left behind by him too. In his very short life, he was able to do that which many people fail at in their entire lives. He captured many hearts with his love for all things and the joy he spread will live on in so many souls....

A life worth living and in the end worth laughing about...

Spread love and joy...

6 comments:

  1. Beautiful Beautiful Post Marinik. You are truly blessed to have seen your grandparents love each other so much. You've given me food for thought today...I guess it's never too late to learn to laugh and make others laugh is it? I know that I've always taken myself too seriously, my nature...perhaps that's not my gift, but then again, perhaps I could cultivate it...I know I think I'm hilarious...perhaps others need to know it too!

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  2. Mary jan very beautifuly story , I miself been raised by my grandparents(from my mom side)in Georgia(Vrastanum),and they were more then grandparents. My grandapa was an arceolagist and teacher at the local school so,I think you remember teachers back then, he was such a serious man that I used to call him <>but of course I loved them, they've been my first teachers at school,my everything,,and now reading your post today brought back so many memories about them, and my chiledhood...wow hard to brieafe now....

    Thank you,

    Karine

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  3. A lovely story about your grandfather. What wonderful memories you have. Sadly I only knew my maternal grandparents, and great-grandmother, but all died when I was very young, and my paternal grandparents long before I was born. And for my children, they will never have know either grandfather which makes me very sad - I know the relationships with their grandfathers would have been very special. The grandmothers are still going strong and are adored by all the grandchildren though, so we must cherish these times.

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  4. What a lovely post.. and a fantastic goal to live a life worth laughing about!!! I think I'll try and remind me of that each day as I tend to get lost in the details and forget to be silly!!! Hugs to you dear Mari.

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  5. A beautiful and moving post. You are so lucky to have had such loving grandparents. They did you a good service showing you what loving someone is all about. Take care!!!

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  6. You're right... Our grand-parents are (or were) important people in our lives ! Thanks for sharing these thoughts with us...

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