ChiefsPlanet - View Single Post - Life If you knew the time was coming, would you give things to people you want to have

**Iowanian** · 11-01-2010, 06:12 PM

When my grandad found out he had brain cancer, one day after doing some work over there he called me in. He had a very large family and I am the oldest grandson.

Basically, took me back to his room where his gun cabinet was kept, and we went through his guns, he told me where he got which one, his grandfather's shotgun, his rifles, the beretta he'd taken from a German in WWII(which was to go to my eldest uncle). We'd talked about them a few years earlier, mostly for curiosity and conversation.

Anyway, he said "pick one and take it home with you". I knew that his grandfather's shotgun had the most family history, but I already had a shotgun from my other great grandfather and wanted to share. I chose his .22 rifle, because I remember many times being with him shooting varmits or butcher hogs/cattle....Including the time I've shared here about being small and fetching a corn cob on request.

I felt like an asshole leaving. It didn't feel right taking it home but he insisted and after I said there were alot of others that might feel they should have it, he said that I was the one he wanted to have it. So I reluctantly did. Its' the only time I've never been happy heading home with a new gun. I felt almost ill, but at the same time, a very deep sense of pride.

It wasn't long that things went south and he wouldn't have been able to have that conversation. After he passed, I talked with my uncles about what he had told me, why my rifle had a broken trigger tip...and there was 1 gun for each of them to choose.

He said "this is to be shot, not kept in a museum" or something close to that.
I felt a tickle and couldn't help smiling after using it to shoot an opossum I'd caught in a trap last week and thought about my grandpa on the drive to work.

I guess I don't know if it helps. The conversation wasn't fun for me because of the reality of what I knew it meant, but I'm damn glad I spent 30 minutes having it. He knows that I'll do the best I can with the name he left for me, and I'll eventually give his rifle to my son.

When I was little, I was shown a photo of myself as a baby, with my dad, grandpa and great gp....I was told how special it was for 4 generations of men....I'd wanted that moment for my own, and my biggest disappointment with losing him is that he was a few months short of meeting my son, and taking that picture.

In short....Its' not the items that matter. Its' the reasons the people will remember them.

11-01-2010, 06:12 PM	#45
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $1638454	When my grandad found out he had brain cancer, one day after doing some work over there he called me in. He had a very large family and I am the oldest grandson. Basically, took me back to his room where his gun cabinet was kept, and we went through his guns, he told me where he got which one, his grandfather's shotgun, his rifles, the beretta he'd taken from a German in WWII(which was to go to my eldest uncle). We'd talked about them a few years earlier, mostly for curiosity and conversation. Anyway, he said "pick one and take it home with you". I knew that his grandfather's shotgun had the most family history, but I already had a shotgun from my other great grandfather and wanted to share. I chose his .22 rifle, because I remember many times being with him shooting varmits or butcher hogs/cattle....Including the time I've shared here about being small and fetching a corn cob on request. I felt like an asshole leaving. It didn't feel right taking it home but he insisted and after I said there were alot of others that might feel they should have it, he said that I was the one he wanted to have it. So I reluctantly did. Its' the only time I've never been happy heading home with a new gun. I felt almost ill, but at the same time, a very deep sense of pride. It wasn't long that things went south and he wouldn't have been able to have that conversation. After he passed, I talked with my uncles about what he had told me, why my rifle had a broken trigger tip...and there was 1 gun for each of them to choose. He said "this is to be shot, not kept in a museum" or something close to that. I felt a tickle and couldn't help smiling after using it to shoot an opossum I'd caught in a trap last week and thought about my grandpa on the drive to work. I guess I don't know if it helps. The conversation wasn't fun for me because of the reality of what I knew it meant, but I'm damn glad I spent 30 minutes having it. He knows that I'll do the best I can with the name he left for me, and I'll eventually give his rifle to my son. When I was little, I was shown a photo of myself as a baby, with my dad, grandpa and great gp....I was told how special it was for 4 generations of men....I'd wanted that moment for my own, and my biggest disappointment with losing him is that he was a few months short of meeting my son, and taking that picture. In short....Its' not the items that matter. Its' the reasons the people will remember them.
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