It is astonishing how many things we take for granted. We make programs for the twenty-four hours. and don’t believe twice about how those programs can be taken off in the wink of an oculus. I ne’er thought every bit much about it myself. until I faced with the daze. and undeniable truth of my grandfather’s decease. I don’t think anyone truly thinks about calamity until they are really faced with flooring intelligence. Of class at the clip I was merely 10 old ages old and the word decease has ne’er even crossed my head even one time. I remember I ne’er truly liked or even wanted to pass anytime with my gramps. all he did was scold and penalize me. However. I realize I will ne’er be the same because after larning about his life. I regret non even acquiring to cognize him before his unfortunate decease. merely 5 proceedingss would’ve been plenty.

Merely believing back all I could of all time retrieve of my gramps was that he ne’er showed any emotion ; ne’er said he loved anyone. ne’er said whether or non he was holding a good clip. he showed no emotion what so of all time. Possibly one time in awhile he would blink a bantam smiling but other than that he ne’er expressed anything. I was ever inquiring why he ever looked so huffy. possibly because he is old? Or possibly because he was holding a bad twenty-four hours? Three old ages after his decease. after all of my relations have calmed down. I took the enterprise to inquire around the household to acquire to cognize him. Sometimes I even regret inquiring that inquiry. Born into a rich North Korean household he lived through 2 eras- the Korean War ( 25 June 1950- 27 July 1953 ) and The Nipponese Occupation of Korea 1910–1945.

Can you conceive of all the agony and hurting? At age 19 he was kidnapped by the North Korean ground forces and forced to contend for the “greater good” . Without even a notice. a adieu. or the sight of his parents he was taken to contend. for all he knew that would be the last clip he of all time saw his parents. Merely even typing this essay wants to do me throw up and call. I can’t even conceive of all the emphasis and hurting he could’ve gone through. Dead people everyplace. adult females. kids. and soldiers every bit good as friends. After the war had ended on July 27. 1953 my gramps had the opportunity to remain in South Korean district and receive refuge as a South Korean citizen where he met his brother after 5 old ages. From there he married my grandma and life goes on.

My gramps was great adult male. after recognizing what he had gone through my position on him had changed. His wont of non showing his feelings? I eventually understood it all. the hurting he had gone through- after savoring blood and seeing your friends die all around you how much more can you endure? Looking back I remember at his funeral. looking down into the casket. “Who is this old adult male? Why did I ne’er take the clip to acquire to cognize him better? ” Hearing all the eulogiums my cousins gave was like speaking to him once more. I got to cognize his favourite ice pick spirit. his favourite topographic point to angle. favourite book. vocal. and so on.

I will ne’er see my gramps the same manner after this experience. From being the old adult male who scolded me mundane into the great adult male who survived 2 great epochs of history and I eventually understood. he couldn’t say it but those short bantam permanent smilings were his ways of stating I love you. his deep laughs were excusatory gestures. and call on the carpeting me was a manner of stating he loved me. his grandson. As I recall I ne’er felt suffering or even somewhat sad at the clip of his decease. and I regret that. I regret ne’er taking my opportunities while he was still alive. merely one more yesterday would hold been plenty for me to state him that I loved him and thank him for raising me and called me his favourite grandson.

It has been eight old ages since that twenty-four hours. and sometime I still hope that it was all a dream. But nil is more certain in life than decease. I wish he was still alive. oh how I wish he could hold seen me graduate in-between school and see me graduate high school every bit good as all the accomplishments that I had conquered. It hurts to cognize how I will ne’er acquire another opportunity to speak with him once more. but I know she is up in heaven watching over me and waiting for the twenty-four hours until I can see him once more. A life can alter drastically at any minute. Don’t take life or the people that you love for granted. some feelings are expressed through one manner or another. Of class most of all I regret non of all time acquiring the opportunity to cognize him genuinely as he was. My loving gramps.