10 years ago today Grandad died

I feel like honouring one of the best men I have known. It seems such a long time ago that I was able to speak with my lovely father. 10 years ago today was his death, but it was a long time before that when he lost the ability to speak and he became trapped inside a body which would not work.
Sometimes I find myself wishing he and Mum would just arrive in the driveway, as they used to, just because they had felt like coming for a drive.
So often I hear his wise words inside my head as I am teaching a class. Sometimes I think of his strong hands and his hearty laugh.
Sometimes I think of his magnificent smile. I remember the dancing of Mum and Dad out on the terrace or in the lounge.
Sometimes I long to pick up the phone and hear his voice on the other end, ringing just because he had thought of me.
I am grateful to my father for so much; for his love; for his encouragement; for his belief in me; for his listening ear; for his calming influence; for his gentle words; for his faithfulness; for his contentment with what life had dealt him; for helping me to form my identity; for teaching me about the simple but important things in life. In my head the list does go on and on.

Sometimes, like right now, I wish I could just have a glimpse of what he is doing now.

10 years ago today we said farewell but Dad could not farewell us. Grief is a strange and wonderful thing - most of the time now I do not feel this way but just sometimes waves of it hit again. Tonight I feel sad.