In memory

I had nothing come to my mind. No words, no phrases, absolutely nothing could describe what I’m feeling at this moment.

And for someone who considers themselves pretty good with words, this moment is incredible.

On Father’s Day I wrote of how it would only be a matter of time until we reached this day, this moment, this time, but it’s still tough to understand, to comprehend and to deal with. (Read my article “A Father’s Day Wish” here: http://www.fox19.com/Global/story.asp?S=12679001)

On Wednesday morning at 12:30, my grandpa Joe Lasita passed away.

My grandpa lived for 87 years. And for 21 years, he was an awesome role model and friend

I tell stories for fun. I write stories about NASCAR, college football, sports in general and anything else that tickles my fancy, but this is by far the toughest story I’ve ever had to write.

Where do I start? What do I say? How do I describe it all.

Surreal.

On Tuesday scores of family members filed into the nursing home where my grandpa had been for the past three weeks under Hospice care. We all knew there wasn’t much time, but we showed up to say goodbye to the man we called dad, grandpa, uncle, brother, friend.

At one point my mom’s cousin looked at me and said, “What are you thinking right now?”

I said, “Nothing really, why?”

He said, “You’ve got that look on your face like you’re thinking of something.”

I guess I was thinking. Why does it have to be this painful? Why do we have to watch my grandpa suffer through his final few hours on this planet?

Diamond Rio provided the answer yesterday as I listened to my iPod. Their song “God Only Cries” provides some good thoughts.

“It still makes me sad, when I think of my Grand-dad, I miss him each and every day. But I know the time will come, when my own grandson, wonders why I went away. Maybe we're not meant to understand, til we meet up in the Promised Land.”The refrain: “God only cries for the living, 'cause it's the living that are left to carry on. And all the angels up in Heaven, they're not grieving because they're gone. There's a smile on their faces, 'cause they're in a better place than, oh, they've ever known. God only cries for the living, 'cause it's the living that are so far from home.”

Through all the pain and tears comes a clearer picture, thanks to country music of all places.

All the best memories of grandfather are mentioned in the article that I wrote for FOX19’s website. And thinking back, those are the best memories that I’ll hold with me.

I went to see the barber who cut my grandpa’s hair for as long as I can remember. He told me, “Your grandfather was a great man. A great man. And he loved the Reds. It’s just too bad he won’t be around to see them win the World Series this year.”

I don’t like the Reds, but if that happens, I know there won’t be a dry eye in my house.

My mother always used to tell my brother and I when we were younger that the sounds of thunder during storms were sounds from the angels who were bowling above us.

As a line of thunderstorms rolled through Cincinnati this evening, I thought of my grandpa.

He’s upstairs in heaven with his family, and I hope for his sake that the bowling lanes up there are just as good as they were down here.

I’ll miss him, but will always remember him.
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If you’d like more information about the funeral and visitation for my grandfather you can visit: http://www.rmdfuneralhome.com/sitemaker/sites/RalphM1/obit.cgi?user=226948Lasita