A Privilege

I lost my father. Not my birth father but the person who brought me up since I was three. My mom's dad and my grandfather. A person of exemplary character and great values. A sincere, efficient and kind doctor who had helped hundreds over a career spanning 40 years. A loving grandfather who taught me everything I know, who is the inspiration and reason for what I am. I lost him. We lost him. It was sudden, unexpected and cruel. Everyday is a constant struggle now. Sanity being elusive since then. Sadness thats permeates every cell of the body and becomes a permanent part of the mind. Amidst all the complex and disheartening and disorienting thoughts there is only one thing that I am sure of. It's been a privilege. To have known him. To have lived with him. To have spent 20 years with him. It's been a huge privilege. Have known that all along and realize it more now. He was and is a great man and there are very few like him. To have lost both parents as a kid, to have overcome numerous hardships and become one of the greatest and most well-known doctors of his time, to have remained so modest, unselfish, helpful and hard-working all his life it takes so much will-power and mental fortitude. It's just impossible to be like him. He is one of the most hardworking persons I know. Even to his last day. A common snippet out of his life: He used to haul 10 gallons of water by foot everyday from the wells to the families in his village on a 15km round trip before he went to school. And many more like that.

I miss you grandpa. I miss you so much.