Lucky

Today the man who attacked and robbed my grandfather almost 8 years ago was convicted of first degree murder.  I'm happy that we are finally past it, I'm happy that he will never be on the street again, I'm happy that my grandmother can start to feel as though justice was served.

My Grandpa Lucky was a man who you were lucky to have known.  He lied about his age to join the Navy when he was 17.  He was a paratrooper in World War II and at 5 foot 6 he was the tallest man I have ever known.  For the past 50 years he went to work 6 to 7 days a week as a gardener because he loved to work and he loved people.  He had a route that stretched from Huntington Beach to Long Beach and on the day he was beaten and robbed, at 77 years old, he was at the Union Bank on Beach Blvd. at 4:30 am like he was every morning.  

The world might say that it is such a sad story, a man, a veteran, getting beaten to death on Veteran's Day, and really it is but when I think about my Grandpa Lucky that is not what I think of.  He is the one who taught me the most valuable lessons about God.  He is the one who loved with all of his heart and couldn't wait to get to heaven.  It makes an impact on a child when someone you admire isn't afraid of death because they are so sure of heaven, and that is what I remember most about my Grandpa.  

So as we settle in with the verdict of guilty, as we come upon the 8th anniversary of his life being taken away, I am happy to remember but not what the world remembers.  I will remember that voice like it was yesterday saying, "HI GRETCH", I will remember the man who taught his family about the love of Christ in a way that was tangible and relateable.  I will remember the man who made heaven real for me because he believed it and lived it. After living his life and working physically hard every day he had very little on this earth but oh the crowns he has in heaven!

There is not one like him, never will be.  I miss you grandpa, can't wait until I get to see you again.