If nothing else, accomplish something with this second, this day, this month, this short period of time of our lives. I'm not saying go out and live the Carpe Diem lifestyle. What I'm saying is that cherish and savor the sweet seconds that we have on this Earth. Who knows what'll happen after I die? But that isn't what I concern myself with. The journey between here and there is definitely a long one. My mind is focused on the present, the now. When my mother's father passed away just four weeks ago, it had to be one of the times where all of these emotions are stirring around in my head. There was grief and sorrow and lament. I felt at a loss. I probably couldn't convey to just how great my grandpa Callan was. I often have said that your name is the best way to describe yourself and now I see that I was correct. I could think of no words that would fully encompass who my grandfather was and what he meant to me, even the most grand would fall horribly short. I felt a loss as a writer when I stood in McClure's, wanting to write something meaningful down in the little book, then I realized how much of a compliment that is to my grandfather. If I can't think of some words besides his name to honor him, I think that shows the scope of the man. Visitations normally run over the ascribed time. The sign at my Grandfather's visitation stated it would run from 4 to 8. As I look at this, I thought this isn't going to happen. I have a huge family, on either side, but I didn't think how long it was going to run. I think we left the funeral home around 10:30. On average, it took most people about 2 and 1/2 hours to get through. It amazed how many lives my grandpa Callan had touched enough that they were willing to stand most uncomfortably for that long of a time. That again shows you the scope of the man. My grandfather was a farmer, plain and simple. It was his love, his passion. He worked harder than any man I have ever met. He was truthful, full of integrity. He was a man of the earth, made of the soil that he sown. He was a gentleman. He would help someone out and not expect anything in return at all. In today's world, this is unheard of. He was modest as they come. He didn't want a visitation, he didn't go seeking any person's fanfare, but the visitation was for those that he had touched, really. It was their turn to do something and not expect something in return. He didn't talk much, and when he did, I swear those words were gold turned into sound. He was great beyond any words. I can't tell how proud I am that I am his grandson, his blood. This means I have the same potential, that same chance, to be great. I love you, Grandpa.

I won't say Goodbye, for someday, somewhere down the line, our paths will once again intertwine.

I can't say that I'll be as great as him, because those shoes are impossible to fill. That doesn't mean that an attempt is futile. I'm going to try my hardest to be an living monument to this man. Be great for him, and for myself. When the last page of my life story is written, I wish that people will wait to pay their respects, but I don't know if I will be great. Some have already said that I am great, that I have high hopes and aspirations for a person of my age. Maybe this is true, I do not doubt this. I just prefer to be blind to whatever greatness I have acquired rather than to be blinded by it. Too many times have people strayed off the path because they were blinded by the sun. You see I have contradicted myself already, I said earlier that I was focused on the present, yet I think on the past. This hypocrisy makes me just as hypocritical as the next person. I won't lie to you, everyone is a hypocrite, somewhere along the line, they have contradicted themselves, yet they don't recognize this.

I'll leave you with this. I said that I am blind to whatever greatness I possess, this doesn't apply to everyone. In fact, it applies to no one but me. I see some people getting down on themselves yet they possess so many positive qualities. Pull the wool off your eyes and take the shades off, reader, you are better than you know.