Numbered...

A storm has arrived in California and it has been raining all day. Today wasn't easy with all the work to be done plus the emotional baggage I was carrying. To make things worse, my boss reprimanded me for being 10 minutes late. And then later on, some blunders came up and obviously, I was pointed to. It hasn't been a good day at work at all. I'm starting to see the "bad" side of my boss and it seems as if what I heard from one of my co-workers is true. At first, I didn't want to judge right away. It just didn't seem fair for me to come in and make judgements without getting to know my boss. Well, I guess it is true.

After I was reprimanded this morning, I apologized and said traffic kept me from getting to work on time. And then I asked a little favor, which was to pray for my grandfather who is dying. She said yes, but it was so cold-hearted. Upon hearing that, I was so disappointed. I just went to work quietly.

Nevertheless, the day progressed like any workday. Pick-ups came for furnitures and there was a big order of 60 items, which I had to personally check one by one to avoid blunders such as the one that happened today (the warehouse man said it wasn't my fault, though).

I left at around 5:30 and got home at 6 PM, where I got a call from Mom. She told me to go to Auntie Nids' house, where everyone (except my sister, Nicholas, and Uncle Rey who are all in LA) was gathered around grandpa. Upon his request, dialysis was ended and he was returned home to be with my grandma.

Eventually, it became an emotional night. My grandma was crying when she heard the news. Later on, she calmed down (probably she forgot due to a bit of Alzheimer's disease) and started talking to us and smiling. She really enjoyed the company all of us provided, especially all of us grandchildren who came to support her.

After dinner, everyone gathered around to share stories and joke around, just to help keep the mood light. Grandma really enjoyed that and was very responsive. She was sharing her stories too and that was very therapeutic for everyone.

Later on in the night, we all gathered around grandpa again to say the rosary. It was too much for Auntie Nidia, she wept when it was her turn to pray a decade. Eventually, us cousins joined in too. Tears flowed down from my eyes as thoughts of grandpa leaving us surrounded my mind. This is especially hard for me because grandpa and I had shared a bond because I was the one who took him to his medical appointments when I didn't have a job yet. I remember kidding around with him and he'd laugh wholeheartedly at our amusing discussions. I also cut his hair when he didn't want to go to the barbershop and spend money. He gave me his clipper and carefully, I cut his hair, making sure his skin wasn't sheared. I guess all these are payback for what he used to do for me when I was younger, such as cook fried rice, scrambled eggs, and pancakes for me. I also distinctly remember him giving me his pillow, the one I liked because the texture was cool to the touch. I think the cover was made of silk or some really smooth and cool-to-the-feel fabric. I loved that pillow and still used it, even though it already smelled because of age and perspiration.

These are the good memories I have of my grandfather. Hang on in there, grandpa. We'll be with you on your journey to Him...

I love you, grandpa, even though you don't know it...