Abuelo

At now ninety nine years old,

my great-grandfather is as young as he’ll ever be.

Once an athlete,

he refuses to slow down for anything.

Once a marine,

he takes on everything in life headstrong.

Everyday is a new challenge for him,

and every challenge is a new beginning.

His day starts out the same.

He wakes up, gets dressed,

makes his coffee the way he likes

and goes to the balcony outside his apartment window,

sits down on his favorite chair,

to stare into the distance.

His old and tired eyes

look vacant and distant;

yet serene and peaceful.

I don’t know what he’s staring at.

I probably will never know what he is staring at.

“Wrinkles are a sign of wisdom” is something that he believes in.

and all of his wrinkles are a sign of ninety-nine years of wisdom.

Even though he may be stubborn,

especially when we suggest moving in with one of us he only says,

“I am not a baby, I can take care of myself.”

When he is to pass on into the next life,

I will miss our family gatherings with him.

I will miss his humor towards everything.

But most of all, I will miss him looking outside

from his favorite chair on his balcony.

And I will still wonder what he was looking at.

My Podcast

by Jessica