From the memory archives of Grandpa.

It was roughly 3 and a half years ago that I sat each of you down and explained that Grandpa was very sick and would most likely be in Heaven with Nana by the end of summer.

You see, Grandpa had been diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and left all alone with Dr. Google for way to long (who turns out doesn’t know as much about pancreatic cancer as he thinks he does). Dr Google had told Grandpa that most people pass within a 3-6 months from the time the doctors find out about the disease. Remembering us sitting together in my office talking about it still brings tears to my eyes. I loved you all so much then – and love you each even more now.

In hindsight I didn’t die. Sorry Grandma Plaintiff. I know that is still on your bucket list… but God wasn’t ready for me at that particular moment in our lives.

What a whirlwind we got to ride on. 6 months of chemo with The Wicked Witch of the North taking turns with some of my friends taking me to the Chemo sessions. Staying by my side as the poison tried to kill the cancer growing in side my body. I think it was 26 or 28 sessions of targeted radiation that drained me the most.

Me leaning on the shoulders of that wicked witch while literally staggering down the hallways of the hospital due to a lack of energy to stand upright. She started singing 99 bottles of beer on the wall and helped cheer me up.

The experience probably changed all of us in the family. Sure the daughters are all still wicked witches, and Grandma is still Grandma Plaintiff. But I think that it brought all so much closer together than we had ever been before. It changed Grandpa also. I value family so much more than I did before. I try to make excuses to get me out of things that prevent us from spending time together – and most importantly I try to tell you how very much I love you each time I see you.

Please forgive me for telling you I’d be gone by the end of summer. Apparently, Grandpa isn’t the best doctor either.

Grandpa Boltz