Good Bye Grandpa!

The passing of my grandfather was a big one for me since it was my first grandparent to pass away. I'm however happy that he left us peacefully and not in a large amount of pain. He had been rushed to the ER too many times and was seeing doctors on a weekly basis. Not that my grandmother is happy to see her husband of nearly 60 years go, but I think it's a huge responsibility lifted off of her. For as long as I can remember, she has been taking care of my grandpa. I never saw my grandpa drive a car because he has always been in not as good health. Not sure if he couldn't see, or couldn't breathe, but he has always had health problems. Then as he got older, he got progressively worse. He wasn't able to make it to my wedding or my cousin Rachels. I know if he could have been there he would be. He was on an oxygen machine so flying was out of the question and driving was too difficult for him.

I learned a lot about my family with this trip to Reno. I learned why my father is the way he is, although I still haven't figured out why it's so hard to make him smile. My father is anal about his car and being cleaned and waxed. He also has a lot of his things in certain spots around the house. He has his own filing system. He LOVES jazz and the drums. My grandfather, although he couldn't drive took huge pride in his cars and having them immaculate. My grandfather, Wayne smith, was in a band where he played the trumpet. I learned that when my father was young, grandpa sat the 4 kids down and had them listen to the Dave Brubeck band and to a few certain songs. Those songs became famous and are now two of my favorite songs. Infact I'm sure they played at my wedding. I also learned that he is the one family member who started the infamous smith family tongue sticking out in pictures. Rachel and I have been given grief about taking pictures with our tounges sticking out for years. We always thought it was our uncle denis who started it. Nope. Now it's a tradition. Thank you grandpa!



Wayne lived a very full life and enjoyed smiling, which makes me wonder what happened to my dad. Lol. Not to say that my dad doesn't smile, but it's not too often you see a smile.
It's always nice to spend time with extended family. I enjoyed bringing brad along with me this time so they all got to meet him and get to know him a little bit better. I'm pretty sure brad and my uncle denis bonded over football while we were there. My cousin Rachel and I are wanting to drive down to Laramie to spend thanksgiving with my uncle denis so he isn't alone. Rachel and her husband Aaron live in Denver and it's a short drive to Laramie for them. It'd be a longer drive for brad and I but I think it's well worth it.
Brad and I stayed at circus circus which is downtown Reno. I grew up going to circus circus and getting my face painted and playing in the main area. I went back after not being there for years and it's far less impressive than I remember. It was so much bigger when I was 7!! Brad and I spent a few hours downstairs in the casino. I blew 10 bucks in the penny slots and brad sat down at a blackjack tables. We made probably 40 bucks over the 3 nights we went down there. Better than losing everything I suppose.

Over all it was a pretty good visit despite the circumstances. It was sad to see my grandfather pass, but I know that he isn't in anymore pain. He isn't itching. He doesn't have to be on oxygen machine. He won't run out of breathe walking 15 feet. He is in a better place and can watch over all of us!
Thank you grandpa for being who you are and giving me those awesome memories we made.

Life

Brad has been home for just over a month now and life is finally settling down. Watching him come off of that plane and find me in the crowd was the best moment and one that I had been waiting for. I got to show him our new home and it's growing on him.
We left for Seattle a few days after he got home and enjoyed just over two weeks with his family. It was great seeing the people who love Brad enjoy his company. We got to spend time with his two best friends, Croyle and Mitch. We spent lots of brotherly time with his oldest brother Greg and a few short but wonderful days with his middle brother Tim and his wife Kaley. On our way out of town, we spent a day or two with my folks and it was nice to just hang out. Getting to know Brad as my husband rather than just my boyfriend is different. So it was nice to have that time to chat.

When we got home, life started for us. We don't have an expiration date anymore. Before he left, we knew there was a date that he would be leaving, so we weren't living life the way we should have. We were dreading that day. So now that we don't have that, we get to be a normal married couple. It's hard learning to live with someone again. I am set in my way of living and he is set in his .. . then we have to learn how to meet in the middle. I suppose it's the trials of being a 'newlywed couple' . . learning everything over again.

My very good friend Nicole and her some Malachi were driving through Billings on there way from North Carolina to Seattle and stopped for a little visit. Nicole's husband, Peter, just left for Air Force bootcamp and this is hard for them being apart. I tried my hardest to comfort her and re-assure her that things will be alright. It's a fairly short time that he will be away, but any time away from your loved one isn't always easy. Peter will be gone for about 6 months, but then the real adventure will start for them. He will get assigned to a duty station and they'll start their military life! I'm so happy for them and know that they can get through it! :-)

I've been on the job hunt, but there aren't any takers yet. I was going apply to do some CNA training in October, but we need some sort of income sooner than that. So here is to hoping. I plan to do some seasonal work and then come January or February, when Brad is back in school, I'll do the training.

We've been hanging out with another married couple, the Wiser's. Zach and Ashley have the cutest little boy, Finnious and he absolutely adores me. You might remember me talking about Ashley and being close with her through most of her pregnancy. It's nice hanging out with another married couple who went through the same thing Brad and I did. Ashley and I got close during the deployment and we know what WE went through. Zach and Brad went through being over in Afghanistan together and know what each other went through. So it's nice to have those people that you have that commonality with who understand.

Yesterday, October 9th was the day that my grandfather, Wayne Smith, left us. I'm not really sure how to grieve this loss as I've never lost a grandparent till yesterday. I have my sad time where I just cry and Brad hugs me and comforts me. Then I have my time that I'm okay. This is going to be a roller-coaster of emotions this week. My grandma's church is putting on some sort of service for him later in the week, so Brad and I will be traveling to Reno to be with my extended family.

So within the past month, my husband has come home, we've driven to and from Seattle, my friend has come out to see us and my grandfather passed away. Life is always interesting for me . . . so stay tuned to see what's next!