Tough Days

Well, on top of being homesick already during the holidays of 2010, on Wednesday, December 29th, my Grandpa Donbrosky passed away. He was 3 weeks shy of his 91st birthday. It is hard to imagine him not with us any more, as he has been there my entire life. I know miss him extraordinarily. As my sister Martha said on her blog, I know he has gone on to a better place, of that I am sure, and he has been reunited with his wife, Martha [yes, my sister's namesake].
I too remember him with a cigar always protruding from his lips. I also always remember him with a baseball cap on [just as he is pictured in his obiturary picture].
He was a giant of a man in my life, as is his son, my father. I have nothing but great memories of my times with him, of our trips to Michigan and the many Christmases spent there. I don't know if it is accurate, but I seem to remember that whenever we went up there, it was snowing. Always a white Christmas. I think that made it stand out even more in my mind, because it was so magical. We don't often get white Christmases in Virginia where I grew up.
I know this is extremely hard on my father. I cannot even begin to describe the depth of emotion within me right now as I ache for my dad.