Cheers to 2017!

As 2016 comes to a close, I’m ready to say goodbye. I had some amazing experiences this year. I hiked in Washington, strolled across the beach in Oregon, road tripped to Colorado, dyed my hair several different colors, shot some amazing wedding and portrait sessions, had lots of laughs, spent time with good friends and family, but I’m ready for a fresh start. I’m excited about all 2017 has to offer. New goals I’ve set. Traveling I have planned. All my amazing 2017 clients I get to work with. However, before the year officially comes to a close, I need to say goodbye.

Not everyone gets to know their grandparents. I am lucky enough to have known all four of mine. Being the oldest grandchild will always be one of my greatest blessings. It means I have the most time with some of my favorite people, or in the case of my grandpa Carl L. Brockman… I had the most time.

I will never forget that Wednesday, the last day of November. It is etched in my memory. I ran to the gym in the morning, stopped for a routine oil change on my car, then drove to the hospital to visit my grandpa who was admitted. When I arrived my grandpa was sleeping. He had been in the hospital a week and not sleeping well, so I thought it was nice to see him finally getting some rest. My grandma, Aunt Barb (who was also visiting), and I headed down for lunch. I decided to come back up to the room wanting to say “Hi” before leaving and  hoping my grandpa was awake. When we returned he was wearing a mask similar to his cpap machine. Although I had lots to do, I just felt like I needed to stick around. I spent the next couple hours chatting with my grandma. Several times nurses, doctors, social services, stopped by. I knew that morning they were talking about hospice. But when the doctor came in…what went from 2 weeks – 2 months turned into “if you have any family that would like to see him, he may not last the night.”

After making the phone calls to my mom, aunt, and uncles, my grandma and I continued to sit there. The hours kept creeping by. Slowly  my family arrived. With his entire family present in the small ICU room one by one we held his hand. He was wearing a BiPAP mask and when my grandma told the nurse she cold relieve him of the mask, he opened his eyes.

My grandpa has been in a wheel chair for the past 30 years. I never knew him when he had the use of his legs. And although I often wished for his sake that he could walk I never really knew just what being wheelchair bound meant. After all it was my grandpa always wanting to play a game. It was my grandpa who taught me to play pool and croquet. It was my grandpa who built my barbie dream house. It was my grandpa who took me on wheelchair rides that eventually turned into wheelchair races. My grandpa who engaged in sword fights, played cards, or dice. My grandpa who listened as I sang songs. My grandpa who took me all through the woods on his eight-wheeler. It was my grandpa who helped make me, me. I never heard my grandpa complain about being in that chair. And I don’t think I’ll ever begin to understand how hard life could be without the use of your legs, because my grandpa showed me that there was a fulfilling life to live.

The morning of December 1, 2016 my grandfather passed away. I miss him dearly and am thankful that I had the opportunity to spend so much time with him. I created a slideshow for the funeral and it was such a gift to be able to look through all the old pictures; to see the amazing life my grandpa lived. I also felt good knowing that my chosen career is doing the same for others. I get to capture those happy moments. Moments that can make us smile even in times of sadness.

As I say goodbye to 2016 and all the good and bad happenings, I look forward to all 2017 has to offer. I’m thankful for my wonderful friends and family. And another thanks to all the amazing clients that allow me into their lives to photograph their precious memories. So here’s to a new year–to making happy memories and living life to the fullest! Cheers to 2017!

My grandpa around age 16