Photographer's Note
Today I was just about to upload a different photo when my mum rang me from Australia and told me that my Grandpa died in his sleep this morning. He was 92. I took this photo of him on his 'porch' 9 years ago just before I moved to Osaka. Then 83, he told me he thought it may be the last time I would see him. Since then I have been back for visits to Australia numerous times and witnessed his body slowly wither away from the huge frame of a man he used to be. For the first 5 years of visits he would repeat his claim of 'this' being our last meeting, but in the last 4 years he stopped making such comments and talked more about wanting 'to go'. This was the first time I realized he had really aged. His mindset had moved beyond anything I could fathom. Death was no longer a concept to him, but the reality of every breath his body struggled to take and he no longer saw the neccessity of it. It was not morbidity. He had lived and now he was ready 'to go'. I was very lucky to have had such a 'grandpa'.
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annagrace
(2469) 2005-08-28 22:55
I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my grandmother at 94 last year and your story reminded me of her. It's sad when our loved ones get so old that they don't want to live anymore. I'm happy for you that you had him for so long. He's in a better place now.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful memory.
Alli
rbcy1974
(20758) 2005-08-29 3:37
Hi John,
Thank you for sharing this touching story. I am sorry for your loss, more than ever this picture reminds us that a photo freezes a moment in time.
Regards
Daniel
Photo Information
-
Copyright: john harte (baboo_mcfoo)
(100)
- Genre: People
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 1996-10-00
- Categories: Daily Life, Event
- Camera: Nikon FE, 50mm f/1.2, Fuji Velvia
- Photo Version: Original Version
- Date Submitted: 2005-08-28 21:35
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- To annagrace: Thank You (1)
by baboo_mcfoo, last updated 2005-08-28 11:12