A Small Goodbye

 We're hurting with the loss of a dear grandfather.  Someone we love deeply.

 Someone who helped raise Alex.  Someone who helped him become the man that I get to cherish every day.  Someone who was very first in welcoming me into Alex's family.  I will never forget the very first time I met Opa.  I was dating Alex and we went over to his grandparent's house for dinner.  I was terribly full of nerves and avoiding all glasswear so no one would notice my hands shaking.  Opa put his arm around my shoulder, gave me a huge smile and said  in his sweet South African accent, "You will sit by me!"  And so I did.  We chatted the rest of the way through dinner and after and I couldn't wait to go back and visit again.  So thank you Opa.  Without you there would be no Alex.  And that's just not a world I would ever want to live in. You held my babies, you played hide and seek with them, you made silly faces for shy girls to smile at and  I love you forever.