I think my Grandpa is the best thing since sliced bread.
It is still one of the truest statements I have ever written, and I believe it every time I think about my grandfather who I called "Dobie." (Side note -- I've been calling him Dobie since I could speak, circa 1992, so I think JK Rowling might need to give me credit - ha!) Dobie always called me his "sack of potatoes."
It's been a little less than a year since Dobie passed away. July 14 will be one year to be exact. Before Dobie, I had been fortunate that I had not lost anyone close to me that I had known at an older age.
The entire scene played out in a time span of a short three days...
July 11: My parents and I were flying home from a friend's wedding in Newport, Rhode Island. My parents flew into Richmond, while I was flying into Lynchburg since I spent the summer at Tech. It was my first experience flying by myself, and although I had no fear of flying, I was nervous about getting to my gate(s) on time and making sure I could find my way around. From Boston I flew into Charlotte, NC, where my carry on was taken with the rest of the larger baggage due to lack of overhead space -- sure, fine, no problem -- but as soon as I got on the plane I had a feeling my bag hadn't been put on the plane. When I landed in Lynchburg, my assumption turned out to be correct. At this point it is 6:30 p.m., the day before Freshman Orientation at Virginia Tech, where I am scheduled to work at 7:30 a.m. at the SGA Hokie Effect booth to promote the shirts and SGA as a whole. With my bag still in Charlotte, my phone at 5% battery (charger in my bag in Charlotte) and being the ONLY passenger in the tiny Lynchburg airport, for some reason my emotions got the best of me and I literally sat down in the middle of the floor and started crying because I didn't know what to do. The people who worked at the airline were very kind and helpful, but I still wouldn't get my bag back for another two hours. What was I supposed to do for two hours? I was tired, hungry, and just a little pissed off. Well, since I was in Lynchburg, I called one of my most trusted sisters, Ellen, and she immediately told me to drive to her house and that we were going out to dinner. I showed up, and so did two of my other sorority sisters (who accepted me at a nice dinner even though I was clad in an oversized Tech shirt and running shorts, hair in a messy bun). Dinner made everything better.
I got back to the airport after they called me to tell me that my bag had safely arrived, and I picked it up and was on my way to school, my phone still about to die. My parents called to make sure everything was going smoothly, told them I was on my way home and that my phone was about to die so I would call when I got back to Blacksburg. I eventually got back to school, around 11 p.m., charged my phone a little, called my parents, and immediately received a verbal smackdown for not calling sooner. I explained the phone situation, but no matter what I said I was still in the wrong. I knew something wasn't right, this wasn't like my parents. I ended up angrily hanging up on my Mom, giving both of us a few needed minutes to calm down. Ten minutes later she called back, told me to sit down, and that she needed to tell me something...I sat down, and prepared myself for whatever she had to say. Today, Didi (my grandma) and Dobie were on their porch having wine, just line any other night after dinner, and Dobie asked Didi if she would like another glass, she said 'That would be nice Kit, thank you,' so he went inside to get her one, my Mom said. He was taking a while, so she started thinking 'What the heck is taking him so long the wine is right on the counter,' so Didi went inside to see what Dobie was doing, and she found him laying unconscious on the kitchen floor... My heart sank. I didn't even know what to say to my Mom on the phone. "Didi tried to give him CPR, she yelled for the neighbors, she called 911...my mom begins to cry...they rushed him to the hospital and he is in ICU on life support right now.... My Dad gets on the phone...Kels, listen, Dobie's strong, don't worry, go to bed you've had a long day, we will talk in the morning and figure out if you need to come home. We love you, goodnight.
I couldn't even say anything, I just hung up. I sat in my bed and didn't even know what to think, I didn't cry. It takes a lot for me to cry, and just thinking about the future and what could happen and Dobie in the hospital, I lost it. I called my parents at 1:30 a.m., my Mom groggily answering the phone, and all I could say was He can't die yet, he can't die yet. I wasn't coherent, I couldn't say anything else, my body and mind wouldn't let me. My Mom replied with, I know, Kels, I know...Her voice gave it all away. We were all feeling the same way, we all knew what was going to happen, we just couldn't come to terms with it yet.
July 12: Orientation Day 1. I woke up early and arrived at Squires around 7 a.m. to set up for the day. My mind was with my grandfather; my eyes were glazed over, I was barely talking. I wasn't myself at all. I made it through the morning, then decided to get my oil changed (why that took precedence I have no idea) and while at the mechanic I got a call from my Mom. Hi Kels, umm, I...(the tears begin)...you need to come home. Pack a bag, leave now, come home. And that's what I did. That was what I did. I called my Little on the way home, she kindly came over and packed for me because I couldn't seem to form thoughts or words, I filled up my car, and I was on my way home. I don't remember driving four and a half hours, all I remember is getting home and getting in the car with my Dad to drive to VA Beach.
We arrived at the hospital around 4 p.m. I was the last one to arrive, and as the elevator doors opened, my entire family was in the waiting room. Friends of my family -- everyone was there. Mom and my Aunt took me back to see Dobie. He opened his eyes for me, looked right at me, I squeezed his hand. We had about four seconds of eye contact, and that was it. He didn't open his eyes ever again. He waited for me, his "sack of potatoes," to get there.
From there, everything is a blur of two days. He passed away that Wednesday, July 14, when all of us had left his room. So many details encompassed those next two days and they are all present in my mind, but make no sense at all. Driving home from the funeral was surreal, and my Mom and I witnessed several sights that I still can't believe were real; signs from Dobie to let us know he is now okay.
I want to say thank you for those of you who were there for me this summer through everything: Bitty, Jaime, Corbin, Emily, Stevie, and the rest of you, you know who you are. I couldn't have done it without you all. And here's to Dobie, one of the greatest men I have ever known.
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