My Eulogy: Losing Someone You Love

Hello All

This post is somewhat a sad one...

February 13, 2015, I lost someone I cared very deeply about, my grandfather, my papa, my best friend and biggest influence and inspiration.

My papa was 87 years old when he passed, and the last I go to see him was over the summer of 2014. Growing up he was always there to take care of me, he was always the one to be there to pick me up everyday afterschool, to take me out whenever he felt like a pick me up, and to just always be there when I needed someone to comfort me.

When I was little, he would often travel from San Francisco to Fairfield to babysit my siblings and I throughout the week. Picking us up after school everyday, to making us every single meal and taking us out with him when he needed to run errands, I was always right there by his side. Whenever he went back to the city, he would often take me with him to spend time with my grandmother. Every weekend that I was with him, he would always ask, "Do you want to go shopping at Serramonte mall? or walk down Mission street?' And every time he would ask, I would give the same answer, "Yes papa! I would love too!" Although he may have spoiled me with many toys and clothes, I know that it was one of the ways he cared, and that he always wanted to make me happy.

Around the time I was 5, we moved out to the city called San Ramon, and brought my papa and grandma with us. They had their own condo down the street from us and it was so much easier to see them everyday. Up until the end of middle school, papa would always be there to pick us up. He was never late, but always early. He would never forget to pick us up, and everyday we would go back to his condo and he would ask "Are you hungry? Did you eat? Do you want steak or adobo?" It was the same thing everyday but it was always my favorite, that's what I liked about my papa, he never forgot about any of the stuff that we liked. Whether it was food, clothes, tv show, anything you could ask him, he would always have the correct answer to our favorite things.

Once I hit middle school, it was around the time I started taking the bus to papas condo everyday. he would always ask if I was ok, or if I was  tired, how my day was and if I wanted to play a game of cards or watch tv with him. I'd tell him anything and everything because I knew it would always make his day when I told him how I was doing. Once I started track season, I began to see him less and less, but whenever I had a race or a fight for taekwondo, he would always be there in the stands cheering me on. No matter what I decided to do with life, he would always be there to cheer me on and I would always love to show off just for him.

Although I never got to see him much after my grandmother passed away, whenever I did get the chance to see him, I would always try to get the chance to make him smile or laugh. Whenever I was able to do that, it always made me want to cry knowing that I couldn't really do much for him in return when he needed me most. Every chance I got with my papa, I somehow always ended up crying. I always cried because I never got to give my papa all of the love and care that he gave me as I grew up as a kid. He was never good at telling me how he felt at times, but it was always possible to tell by the way he acted.

I'll never forget all of the days he would say I love you my child, the days he would give me long hugs before leaving, and kisses whenever he wanted. I'll never forget the days he would take care of me and the days I would in return do for him. The days I would make him proud of all of my achievements and the days I would always make him happy with all of the laughs and memories we made.

I'll always love you papa, I'm never going to forget all of the wonderful things we did together as I grew to become the young women I am today. I love you papa, I miss you.

-Brandy B.