Grandpa was having lung issues in early 2014. After numerous bouts of pneumonia, it was discovered that he had a pleural effusion and needed surgery to clean out the infection as antibiotics were not helping. After months of being under the weather and a lung surgery at the age of 94, Grandpa was understandably in a weakened state and went to a rehab facility for a month to work on getting is strength back.
After being home from the rehab facility for only a few days, Grandpa decided to try and go get his mail, by himself, with no one at the house. My dad had been living with him by this point for several months and they had a home health aide for several hours a day. While Grandpa was trying to get out of the house, he tripped and fell down the front steps. During the fall, he basically "scalped" his arms. The wounds were pretty extensive and needed special bandages to cover them.
I was sent up to Binson's (where Grandpa INSISTED I get his bandages) armed with his written prescription. I remember walking in and walking toward the back of the store because no one was in the front. A woman (who I later knew as Sarah) asked what I needed, I told her, and she told me to take a number. A man (who would later become my fiance) sitting at the desk next to her spoke up and said he could help me. I went to his desk, explained what I needed and handed him the prescription.
I ended up being at Binson's for HOURS due to RX issues, Medicare forms needing to be filled out, and a lack of the product I needed. During this time, Adam and I chatted while waiting for forms to come in, doctors to call back, etc. At a certain point, I realized that Adam was fishing for info about me, so I flat out said, "Just so you know, I have a 2 year old and I'm going through a divorce." He didn't care. Which was unusual considering that sentence was usually the kiss of death for any conversation, lol. Near the end of my time at Binson's, Adam asked for my number. And for the first time in my life, I gave it.
Two days later, Adam called me and asked me out on a date. We went out...putt-putt golf, go-karting, dinner, and HOURS of conversation. We had that instant connection. You know what I'm talking about? Where you feel like you've known someone for years? Everything was comfortable and easy and wonderful.
I told my Grandpa later about meeting Adam. And as we got more serious, Adam met him. Grandpa loved him. He told me many times how good of a guy Adam was. He was glad I found someone after everything I had been going through. Adam and I had some pretty funny moments with Grandpa, and despite him being gone, he always seems to be with us. We are where we are BECAUSE of him. And while we are both sad grandpa will not be around to celebrate our marriage or engagement...we know that he knows. And we know that he approves.
And as if he wanted me to know that, I had a wonderful dream last night.
In my dream, I was sitting at grandpa's house, in his living room, talking to him like I've done thousands of times before. He congratulated me on our engagement. He told me God had brought us together through his fall...one of his divine appointments. He told me he was so happy for me and he knows that this is a perfect match...a forever match. He told me that even though he isn't here on earth anymore that he WILL be at our wedding. He told me he will be there for the whole thing and asked me to save him a seat up front at the ceremony.
It's hard to describe the "feelings" I felt during the dream. I was so happy to talk to him again. I told him how deeply I miss seeing him every day. It was sad and joyful and wonderful all at once. And as I am writing this post right now, I have tears streaming down my face. I really feel like I got to "talk" to grandpa again even though I know it was only a dream. I feel like I got the most wonderful blessing on my engagement to Adam.
I am left with a wonderful feeling of peace. For getting a blessing I never thought I'd receive. For being able to tell grandpa all about the last couple months. For seeing his face light up again when he saw pictures of Madeleine. It was all so wonderful and it all felt SO real. You know the kind of dream I'm talking about. So real, that it's been with me all day.
I love you grandpa. And we miss you every day.
I will certainly save you a seat right up front at the ceremony. This is all because of you.
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