In about 2 months, I will be marrying my Anam Cara, my " Soul Friend", my " Soul Mate" and I couldn't be happier. In the coming months, we will be receiving gifts, well wishes and RSVPs and I look forward to celebrating with my friends and family at our love filled ceremony and reception. With weddings and any type of milestone in your life, you tend to remember those who are no longer with us in physical form and are unable to celebrate with us, like my Grandfather. Even though he is not here to wish us well in our new marriage, I have already received the greatest gift you could receive on your wedding day.
I have a special place in my heart for my Pop-Pop. He was a tall, lanky guy who worked hard his entire life and took very good care of his 5 children, wife and grandchildren when they arrived. He loved to watch tennis, play golf on the weekends and read the Sunday paper in the living room right next to my Grandmom every Sunday. My fondest memories are going over to my Pop-Pop and Grandmoms house to have dinner to visit with my aunt's, uncles and my many cousins, eat food and laugh all night. When I was sick, my Pop-Pop would pick me up from school and take me to his house where my grandmother showered me in grilled cheeses, Starbursts and mint chocolate chip ice cream as I watched tennis with them both. My Pop-Pop was a straight forward, honest man with a dry humor that kept me laughing. But with life, age finally catches up with you.
When my Pop-Pop was diagnosed with Heart Disease, I did not understand what that was at the time. My mom said it wasn't good and he had to go on meds. Later on down the line, he had to have heart surgery and a pacemaker was put in place. By this time, I was with my now fiancée and My Pop-Pop always had something to say to him every time he and my Pop-Pop were in the same room. "Pull your pants up, young man.....You better take that hat off, son....You need a hair cut boy." It was always something and at one point I thought maybe my Pop-Pop was seeing something I wasn't seeing. I didn't get to ask him though because the day we were dreading came along way too fast.
But a week later, as I went to bed one night, like every other night, I received the greatest gift a future bride could receive from her Grandfather. As I slept, I had a vivid dream of my grandparents house. I was on the side of the house near the garage, with stone steps curving up the left side of the house, which was surrounded by ivy. My fiancée was behind me, holding my hand and we walked up the stairs towards the front door of the house. As we walked up the steps, with ivy and trees on our left, and the house on our right, my Pop-Pop appeared in the walk way. We stopped in our tracks and I almost screamed. He was younger looking and was in his classic khakis and golf shirt, which was yellow. I said " What are you doing here, Pop-Pop?! How are you here?!" He just smiled, looked at us both and said " You made the right choice, Heather." I started to cry and I jumped forwarding, releasing my fiancée's hand, to give my Pop-Pop a hug. But when I did that, I went right through him and hugged the air..... a second later I woke up.
The dream was so vivid, so life-like, that I knew he came to me in my dream. I woke up and immediately started to cry. I knew I was given the greatest gift someone could receive and nothing else will ever compare. I knew I was meant to be with my fiancée from the start, but having my grandfather's approval is like icing on the wedding cake.
"A Grandfather is someone with silver in his hair and gold in his heart." ~ Author Unknown
