My grandfather

With all the negativity going on in the world today, I wanted to share something positive and heart-warming. My grandfather Robert E Denham Jr., left this world November 14th at 11:20 am. He was without a doubt, one of the most exceptional, extraordinary men i have ever known... the legacy he leaves behind is beyond anything I could ever put into words. He has always been there for anyone that needed him. whether it had been a place to stay, money to borrow, or just a shoulder to cry on. I always said,” this world was a better place with him in it and I could never imagine (in a million years) a world, in which he doesn't exist....." but now I find myself in that world..

My grandparents would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this upcoming May. 70 YEARS and they always seemed to love each other more and more each day.

I have learned from my grandparents what love truly means. I was always in 'awe' of the love my grandparents shared not only for their family but for one another. They taught each of us what unconditional means. As I tearfully watched my grandmother say goodbye to my grandfather the one thing that stuck with me was her saying to him

" thank you, thank you for our life, THIS LIFE, I wouldn't want to have spent it with anyone else.......

This is my letter to 'grampa',

It's now been over a week since you passed away and it hasn't gotten any easier. This has affected not only our family, but anyone that has ever had the pleasure of crossing paths with you.

There are many stories to tell like the time he received a phone call saying it was my cousin and she was stuck in another country and needed $10,000! He didn't hesitate! He ran right down to the bank! (Thank god he talked to the bank manager and figured out it was a scam!) That was the kind of person he was. He would help anyone that needed it.

This is my favorite memory. Here is my letter to grampa....

I will never forget my wedding day as long as I live... it was September 18, 2004, and you were in the hospital for over a month and wouldn't be able to attend my wedding .... I remember you begging the doctor to let you out just so you could come to my wedding. You told him you would come right back to the hospital after the ceremony. (At the time I was secretly hoping he would say yes )..... but he said "absolutely not!" .. I could never imagine in a million years you not being there on my special day. So I rented 2 limos, and after the ceremony on the way to the reception, my limo made a detour... yup we drove right to the hospital!! There was no way I wasn't seeing my grampa on my wedding day!!! We walked through the hospital in our wedding attire and went right to your room. The look on your face was priceless (and everyone else's )!!! Im pretty sure you thought you were hallucinating!

I now realize how lucky I am to have so many great memories with you, but that, by far, will always be my favorite! You were so proud that day! I remember pinning your flower on your hospital gown and you just smiling. I could overhear you telling the nurse (when we left) how upset you were that you had to miss my wedding day, but how happy ,surprised, proud and lucky you were that "your granddaughter" took time out of her wedding day to stop and see her "her grampa."

Grampa, I want to thank you. That decision I made that day was because of you. You have shown all of us that family and love are the two most important things in life. nothing else matters in life aslong as you have family and love. I have so much to thank you for there isn't enough room in this world to write everything.

At the time, i thought the worst thing that could ever happen was you not being there to share my wedding day with me. now I realize I was wrong. You no longer here is the worst thing that could EVER happen.

This is by far the hardest thing I have ever gone through.

All I want in life now, is to be more like you..I promise I will try everyday to be loving, forgiving, compassionate, and help others who need it. I never realized how lucky I was, AM, to be your granddaughter. I love you always and I promise to carry on your legacy.

Love your "favorite" granddaughter

Donnalee

P.S Oh and grampa, remember when you told the nurse on my wedding day how lucky you were to have such an amazing granddaughter?????? Well guess what grampa.... I was, (AM )the lucky one to have you , as my grampa.