.

I received the phone call yesterday morning that I had been expecting for the past few weeks. My grandfather, known as "Pop" to us, had passed away during the night. He was 89.

I used to stay with my Pop during the school holidays. He would take me to museums and on train rides into the city. I enjoyed those stays, and would spend my spare time reading from his library.

Pop was the most organized person I knew. He loved books, crosswords and the morning paper. In later years he connected to the internet. He never really stopped learning.

He saw and travelled so much over the course of his life.

My entire life I have received a birthday card in the mail, always a day or two early. In recent years, so have my kids.  He never missed a single birthday, even when he was in hospital last year. I'm going to miss those cards.


I'm going to miss him.

Rest in peace, Pop.