So this weekend has started off pretty rocky. My Papa Bob passed away a little before 4 o'clock in the morning today. I was very fortunate to have spent quite a few hours with him and my grandma last night, and was able to say goodbye. We thought that there was 2 or 3 days left, but it ended up only being a matter of hours after hospice informed us. However, I look upon that as a blessing. It was a lot easier on the ones who loved him that it happened this way. He had the good fortune to be able to die at home in his own bed. Before yesterday, he was even able to get out of bed and go sit in the rocking chair when company was over. Though he was mostly non-responsive due to the amount of morphine that he was being given, you could tell that he was still thinking and hearing when people talked to him. We all knew that he had comes to terms with dying and was ready to go home to heaven. It is especially in times like this that I am so grateful for my religious values and beliefs. I can't imagine how incredibly difficult this would be if I didn't believe that my grandpa is now in a better place, a place that my family and I will one day be reunited with him in. Though it is difficult to lose someone who meant so much to me, I am thankful that he passed away with the dignity that he did and that he is no longer experiencing suffering or pain. He will always be a special person in my life, and I will forever cherish the memories that I have of him.