Purpose

So what's the purpose of these signs? To make us feel better? To let us know there's life after death? I don't know. I know a sign makes me feel better. But they've become so common now that they don't have the same significance. They are significant and I recognize that, but I wait for the "next level."

My grandfather passed away one week ago today. His name was Dale. He was old when he passed, but he wasn't sick. He just...died. He ate lunch with his friends, played dominoes for a couple of hours, and he went back to his apartment to make supper for the evening. He got into his wheelchair and wheeled into the bathroom. And that's where he died. So fast that he didn't even have time to press the "help" button around his neck. I like to think that's a good way to die. Fast, unexpected, and clean. Accidents scare me because of the goriness. He was lucky.

I visited my cousin's grave site when I went back home. He died seven years ago and was the same age as me. He has said hello to me a few times. His sign is simply the song "Old Time Rock 'n' Roll." His brother, sister, and I sang this song at one of those kooky recording studios at an amusement park many, many years ago. Whenever I hear this song, I think of him. That's it. I don't have any other memories that remind me of him. This was the first song that played on the radio the morning right before we went to Grandpa's funeral. And it played on the radio on the way home from Grandpa's burial. It's odd because we didn't even have on the oldies station. But I've come to almost expect this type of thing. I smile.