My 98 year-old grandfather is a Capricorn (Earth sign). A successful Sicilian-American businessman, family man, Army Air Corp. veteran, and a real straight shooter.
I call him The Godfather on occasion, although he’s more like Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) in Casablanca, his favorite movie. His B&W aura stands in sharp contrast to our technicolored modern age… Even The Beatles were too far past his time. He doesn’t know them. The “Who?” Cranky Kong asks. “B-E-A-T-L-E-S!” My beautiful grandmother reminds him “You know… From The Ed Sullivan Show!”
Grandpa is of the Great Generation, where a man’s worth is measured solely by his occupation. Which is why he asks me about work each and every time I visit him (weekly or bi-weekly depending on my schedule.) However, it’s the alzheimer’s that truly makes this recurrence a scene from Groundhogs Day. For, each time I must remind him I earn my money as a delivery driver (primarily), and each time I must witness the cataclysm in his bloodshot eyes – His pained facial expression mirroring our shared dismay. “…an errand boy.”😭
Grandpa is also my Master Oogway (Turtle from Kung Fu Panda). And you should see his face when I call him that. (Waves hand over scalp). No clue.
My grandparents suffer greatly as anybody does their age. That we do not have a legal euthanasia (death with dignity) option in this country is surely one of our greatest oversights. As humans. It’s what they want.
I fear the death of my grandfather because I am superstitious that his practical, 3D grounded spirit will possess my body, cause me to quit this blog, shave my head and join the military, or become a traveling salesman (I wouldn’t mind the traveling part). And I would be trapped inside my body as a horrified witness to the whole experience (like I am now).
I believe in ghosts, you could say. I believe deceased relatives have influenced my art, my relationships, and my choices in general. My “Little Chefs” I call them, i.e., the rat master chef in Ratatouille. I am Linguini – the bumbling marionette puppet. And I believe my grandfather will be with me after he passes. Like my Uncles, my maternal grandparents, and other friends and relatives who have moved on. Okayy, back to Earth!
Here is how I must leverage my Grandfather’s Earthen spirit going forward. My Grandfather is a Capricorn. My goddaughter niece is a Capricorn. And I also have several Capricorn placements in my birth chart, including my Saturn (ruler of Capricorn) which has just returned. Which makes me…🥁 (pinch-conjuring air-title) “The Godfather😉” End sales pitch.
“Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
EF🤵🏽🐈⬛ (🐴🩸😱)
Nice post 🌼🌸💮
Blessed and Happy afternoon 🌞
Greetings pk 🌎
🌸🌼💮
Gracias y buenas tardes a ti🙏🏼🌍🌞
I am positive my grandfather is still along for the (my) ride even though he passed several years ago. Some bonds can truly never be broken. 🙂
I was not a believer in magic such as this until my first Uncle passed away. Shortly after I began to see signs in my everyday experience – things only he could have instigated. Neat to hear you have experienced your grandfather as still along for the ride too🙂
a wonderful post and tribute to your grandad —
Thanks, John – I awoke early this am and wrote it impromptu. I wanted to move on to a different element like fire or water initially, but soon realized there is unfinished business yet in the earth realm. May even attempt a part 3! Thanks again🙂
impromptu writing can often bring forth little revelations that the more considered mind might conceal —
when in doubt become a 5c coin; do a little jig on the floorboards accompanied by a light metallic rattle 🙂
..Which has gotten me into trouble in the past😄 Sometimes I overshare. Though I do love the more impromptu, stream of consciousness style; I aspire toward it
yes, it has its pitfalls too —
My mom passed away 7 years ago. She and my father gave me a wonderful childhood. But they were only 22 when I was born so they had to grow up fast. So I couldn’t find a connection with her because she felt too simple for me. Until I had my first son, but at that time she was already ill and on a downhill path to afterlife. Now that my kids are growing I miss talking to her on a regular basis. I wish I had the patience she had with me and my sister… But that’s life. We appreciate some people only after they’re gone.
My condolences about your mom🙏🏼 I am very lucky to still have my Mother. My brother in law lost his mother to cancer the year he married my sister. He has handled it very well, but I am sure it is very difficult… Wow! when I was 22 I still felt like I was a child! I had a sheltered upbringing… Matured later. I’ll bet your mother is most happy with your choices, and is very happy to have grandchildren, Master Uri!🎉🥋🙏🏼
Older generations deserve our utmost respect. It always angers me when young people are so disrespectful to the elderly.
Felt💯👍
Fantastic post, your grandpa sounds like an amazing person. I only ever really knew my Nan, as my grandad passed away when I was very young, so I’ve no memory of him. I’ve been told all about him though, he was a fighter pilot in WW2, and was a builder afterwards. Would’ve loved to had the chance to know him.
Thanks, PB – Very neat about your grandad. Wow a fighter pilot! My grandad here was also a pilot. He was 20 when WW2 ended, was enlisted and training to pilot bomber missions if the war had gone on. Fortunately for me it did not!✌️🧑🚀
Wow, he sounds like an amazing guy. Amazing how they were both pilots! I wish I’d known my grandad. He sounded like such a nice guy from what I’ve been told and the stories that family have told me. 🙂
Beautiful post and I agree with you about euthanasia, the topic of my sociology final essay at 17.
Also, I love the below paragraph. ❤️
[However, it’s the alzheimer’s that truly makes this recurrence a scene from Groundhogs Day. For, each time I must remind him I earn my money as a delivery driver (primarily), and each time I must witness the cataclysm in his bloodshot eyes – His pained facial expression mirroring our shared dismay. “…an errand boy.”😭] 🙌
You were on the case at 17, good one!❤️.. I was proud of that paragraph, not gonna lie😁🙌
I’m SHOCKED that you’re surprised. I mean, am I not a Pisces?! 😁
I’m glad you’re proud, as you should be. 🥂
My grandfather (AKA “Papa”) had Alzheimer’s too and towards the end of his life he thought my father was one of his brothers and he thought my grandmother (AKA “Nana”) was still alive, that sort of thing. Nana had passed away a few years earlier of brain cancer, but she was still lucid right up until the end. I remember not long before she died I had my first story published and I brought the magazine in to show it to her, and she asked me to read her the story, but since it was a horror story I just described it to her in very general terms instead … Every once in a while I used to dream of going over to their house like when I was a kid and everyone would be there. Those were nice dreams even though I was always a little sad after I woke up.
Yes the Alzheimer’s is very tough, as I am learning. My Uncle also passed from brain tumor – he handled it like a freaking champ, god love him. We must cherish the memories; celebrate them.
Sorry about your GF.
At least yo’ve spun a bit of humour into a humourless part of life.
I’m Canadian. We have the right to die here, medically assisted suicide.
Be well!
Thanks, Resa – I am learning how to be an entertainer as i get older. And how to see the humor. Your comment causes me to remember the only regret my Grandpa has ever admitted, that he wished he were a better actor. And that’s me as well! Thanks so much
Ha! A most interesting wish.
I worked in the industry my entire career, from ironing shirts to Costume Designer. I never dated an actor. I don’t know who they are… if they’re acting or not.
An insane wish, probably Haha… That is fantastic! I don’t know many people from the industry currently – lost contact with all my film school friends when I moved back from Colorado so you are a great contact.
Ah… what state are you living in now? Does it have a thriving film community?
I live in Cincinnati, OH and That’s where I’m from originally. It’s def above average as far as film community for major North American cities. I’ve made some contacts, been recommended to others, but I’m not interested in getting into the scene. “It is too late for me, my son” Covid hit my first year in film school and severed the bridge to Hollywood (My idealization of the industry as a whole) for good. Of course the odds of me making it were ridiculous to begin with… My destiny is to care for my fam and my younger sister with special needs and her friends long-term. And make my montage passion projects when they aren’t looking😈
I understand!
That covid did change the world we knew.
It’s great that you have passion projects. Once a creative, always a creative. 🎨
A really great tribute to your grandparents, especially your grandpa, EF. I love your verve, your spunk, your middle finger to the world while simultaneously acknowledging what matters. “End sales pitch,” indeed. I definitely believe “death” is just another door. He definitely WILL be with you….. :) 🙂 🙂
You know, Stacey? I think I’ve been working my whole adult life for somebody to tell me that; just the way you said it. Like can I pin this comment somewhere to my site!?!?😂🔥🥂🙏🏼
Oh man, I wish you could too! Glad to connect! I feel like I should call you by your real name, too, since you called me Stacey. But I’m fine with E.F. if you are. I briefly scoured your site but couldn’t find your “real” name anywhere, lol…………..
()
(hushed whisper) It’s Jason. But PLEASE! Call me EF, it freaks me out seeing my real name here on wordpress. I am authentically me here, but it’s a necessary escape for me at the same time. I need the anonymity. Thanks again for the encouragement, my friend. And have a wonderful weekend🌹🛸🙏🏼
It is crazy how our ancestors do influence us even long after they pass away. Nowadays I think a lot of my great-grandfather and how similar I am becoming to him even though I never met the guy and only hear stories about him from my mom and grandmother.
Ancestry is Ghost hunting, for real!
That it is!
Oh, wow! That’s a grand narrative, mate. Your grandparents look like they are among the most grounded grandparents in the world. It is nice to feel like Rick Blaine or maybe Vito Corleone; I love both characters, though Rick is cooler because we still have Paris!😉
However, I believe in ghosts, not that in the cinema haunting all over the house, but there must be something left from our energy when we die.😅
To put it bluntly, as none of my close family members are left on this earth, I feel them all (father, mother, and brother) around me. I think it is a way to feel supported!
Anyway, I particularly like this post because I got to know you better, and you told us more about yourself. And I think this is, for sure, the beginning of a beautiful friendship.🤙🖖