Goodbye Granddaddy

In a bout with cancer that has lasted almost 2 years the disease final took him around 1:30 on Good Friday. I got to see him and I held his hand because I didn't really want to say goodbye. He had grown weaker and weaker over the past year but I am grateful to have known him my whole life and I am glad he does not have to suffer anymore. He couldn't speak, he was running a 103 degree fever and seemed to be struggling for breath while he slept. I left before he passed but mom called me an hour later to tell me that he had left us. It didn't really hit me until I called into work to see if I had to come in and the last thing my boss said is "I'm sorry for your loss." This struck me as weird because he is new and I haven't met him yet so how can he be sorry? He doesn't even know me yet. But then I realized I did lose something and at that point I realized that he wasn't coming back. Thats when I cried. He taught me how to smile, he made me laugh. I learned about the simple pleasures in life from him and part of him will always live as part of me. So I guess this is my way of saying goodbye. The funeral is tomorrow and I hate funerals. I hope my family can celebrate his life and cherish his 80+ years on this earth.