Ong.
I miss my grandpa so incredibly much. As I sat in my grandparent’s living room playing with my little cousins, I couldn’t help but think how much my grandpa would have loved to see this. He is a true family man and he would always encourage our family gatherings. I could feel his presence filling the room.
Throughout my 22 years of living, the family gatherings became less and less frequent. Every day became four times a week. Four times a week became twice a week. Twice a week became once a week. And then once a week became sporadic depending on everyone’s busy schedule. Towards the end of my grandfather’s life, the family gatherings boomed again. Nobody saw his battle with cancer coming to a rapid end, but I can tell you that the last three months of my grandfather’s life were perfect. It’s a pity that we made the effort once we were aware of his diagnosis, but I am so happy that we were all able to put our busy schedules aside and only concentrate on his well being. My grandpa was able to take his last breath with his entire family and some very close friends surrounding him. Such a beautiful way to leave this world. He died painlessly, naturally, and peacefully. His cause of death was liver failure.
Words cannot even begin to describe how much I miss him. All I have left to hold onto are all my fond memories with him. It’s crazy to think about life and how precious it is. I can’t stop thinking about him. His legacy will be forever engrained in my life and I hope that someday I will be able to one day pass on his legacy to my children and for future generations to come. His life-story is amazing. Absolutely amazing. So amazing, that we are writing a book about him to keep within the family to make sure that his legacy lives on forever! I might write a tiny bio about him on here just so you guys can see how truly awesome he is! He is most deserving of everything sweet and perfect, and I am almost certain I now have a direct line to Heaven through him.
My grandpa. My guardian angel. My hero.
Vincente Pham Van Kha
5/1/1932 to 5/13/2012
I love you and I miss you, Ong. Always.
RIP
vent.
for those of you that don’t know, my grandfather was diagnosed with liver cancer about three months ago. it started out as a small mass, and for an entire year the doctors have been monitoring it. it wasn’t until about four months ago that they took a CT scan and found that the mass has spread — it became three different masses. after running a few more tests, the doctors declared the masses as tumors and that they were cancerous. “cancer”. what a scary word. my family and i went into panic mode. this is a new situation for all of us; something that we just hear about through other people’s experiences. we never thought that anyone in our family would actually be the ones put in the middle of this ugly battle.
words cannot explain how sad i am about this whole situation. it’s something i found very difficult to talk about when i first found out. i’m not kidding when i say that i am EXTREMELY close to my grandfather. i come from a very tight-knit family and the love that oozes out of my veins for him is no different from any other person who is a part of this family. my grandfather is literally the backbone. he holds every good characterstic there is to being a gentleman, a man, a father, a husband, a grandfather. he isn’t perfect, but he is so close it’s scary. he is the best role model anyone could look for. he taught me lessons of punctuality, charity, and integrity. he leads by example. he is the best man ever and i am SO LUCKY and PROUD to call this man MY grandfather. learning about his cancer made me realize how much i have taken him & my grandmother’s presence for granted. well, anyone’s presence for that matter. life is by all means NOT short— it’s just really precious. i refuse to take them being with me for granted ever again!!! it’s a pity that just because my grandfather is sick now, that i am realizing all this. this is something i should have never taken for granted in the first place. same goes for my parents, my sisters, my family, my friends. i get so caught up with my own life that i sometimes forget all the important people that make it mine in the first place. i’m thankful that i have realized this now, as opposed to realizing it if he ever passes away—-and then regretting the times i never got to spend with him. nope. not gonna let that happen. nah uh. no way. my main focus has been my grandparents as of late. i try and visit them everyday, if not everyday, then at least 5 days out of the week. i cannot and will not allow myself to regret not doing enough with/for them.
it’s been a wake-up call for me these past couple of months. the bond i have with my grandfather has not only grown stronger, but my outlook on life has changed as well. prayer, faith, love and laughter keeps my grandpa going — so prayer, faith, love and laughter are what i strive to give him.
because my grandfather is much older, it’s harder to fight the cancer. chemotherapy is too strong for him and his chances of survival become slimmer b/c of the radiation. he will always have the cancer — but the main concern is containing it. if the cancer spreads, the doctors have estimated at most, only THREE months to live. if they are able to contain it, then he may have up to another 5 years under his belt!!!! we find out next week whether or not the nuclear medicine and the chemo pills have been working. i am literally praying with every breath i take. i hate to see him suffer, but i’m not ready for him to go. please please please please please God. PLEASE. I AM BEGGING YOU.
it hurts to see the ones you love suffer.
Excuse this little rant but I think its dumb how people “claim” teams and then call people “bandwagoners”. If it weren’t for more “bandwagoners” aka fans, aka the market, then this beautiful thing we’d like to call “sports” probably wouldn’t be as successful. Teams would start to disband. Only a fraction of the public would be interested and the sport would become almost non-existent to the normal everyday human being. Like polo. Do you watch polo?????
Last time I checked, teams need money to play, so they need fans— so they need more people to buy their tickets, merchandise, etc. These “bandwagoners” aka fans aka the market, provide the basis of every substantial need to keep these teams operating: money. Why else do teams pay so much for marketing?? To rub it in everyone’s face? No! To get more consumers! So they can make more money! So they can keep their players happy! So they can achieve fame and glory!
I don’t claim The Mavs as mine and mine alone. They aren’t just mine. They’re everyone’s! If you like my team now, and you used to not like them, then GREAT. They must be doing something right. That’s why we watch sports, right? That’s why it’s broadcasted to the public. We create an identity with our team bc we are from their hometown, or bc we love the city they’re representing, or bc our dad or family member or significant other likes them, etc etc. Or maybe its bc they’re playing better now. Or you like a certain player bc they’re representing your ethnicity. Who the eff cares! If you like them then you like them!
So shut up about the bandwagoning. It’s helping the economy and it’s helping the team. Isn’t that what you want for your team, anyways? All the success/glory/fame? How can they achieve that without first creating a solid foundation of fans? And if you were really there from the start then good for you for believing in your team, but that doesn’t give you the right to bash everyone else who just started noticing their talent.
I’m just sick of seeing that damn word everywhere: “Bandwagoners”. It should be kudos to the team for being able to make a name for themselves & gaining more supporters. Am I right? Or am I right.
I felt like that all just needed to be said. It was annoying to see it and I get annoyed easily. So there ya go. Lol my rant :)
Toodles!
