February 14, 1997

I remember this night vividly, probably always will. I was eleven years old and
getting ready to go to the local skating rink for the Valentine's Day Skate.

My father and I were almost out the door when the phone rang. My mom answered
and then starts sobbing, with tears running down her cheek she tells my dad
that his dad died that morning.

My grandpa lived up the street from his brother, my Great Uncle Stanley.
Uncle Stanley went to go get him, but there wasn't an answer at the door. He walked
in and found my grandpa face down on the floor.
 He had choked on his breakfast.
I think that was the first time I ever saw my dad cry. I remember
going to my bedroom, I didn't want to see my parents crying. My sister was ten
and my brother was six. I don't think they really knew
what was going on, but they were scared to see my parents crying like that.

My mom's parents drove two hours that night to come be with us.
I remember hugging my grandpa really hard.

My family and I drove out to Colorado for the funeral.
My dad and his sister, Laura, helped spread his ashes into the Colorado River.
It was cold, but a beautiful day.
The sun was shining. The mounatins were majestic.

My dad's other sister, Amy, wasn't able to come.
She was in her third trimester.

I didn't find out about the following information until this year......
In my grandpa's will, it was determined that Amy and Laura were to split
stocks and bonds that equaled $70,000.
My dad was to get the pension.
There was only $700 left in his pension.

My dad and Aunt Laura sorted through all of my grandpa's things,
 some for my dad, some for Aunt Laura, some for Aunt Amy.
When my dad was leaving, my Aunt Laura told my dad that he needed to sell
the things he was taking home and divide three ways.
I was told they got into an arugment and haven't spoken to each other since then.

On a day that's suppose to be about spending time with that speical someone,
my grandpa died alone. On a day that's suppose to be about love and the people
you love, my dad's family was ripped apart.

That is why I hate Valentine's Day.

In a sad way, it was kind of a blessing. In the autopsy, they found
that he had beginning signs of Alzheimers.
He was 64.


 

UCLA STUDY

A study conducted by UCLA's Department of Psychiatry has revealed that the kind of face a woman finds attractive on a man can differ depending on where she is in her menstrual cycle. For example: If she is ovulating, she is attracted to men with rugged and masculine features.

 
 However, if she is menstruating, or menopausal, she tends to be more attracted to a man with duct tape over his mouth and a spear lodged in his chest while he is on fire.

 

No further studies are expected.

~Sarah~