Four Granddaughters

Katrina Katarina Serina Samantha- May 2005

My father passed away on January 25th, 2005.

It was a Monday... 2:15PM. My mom called me when he died. I was about twenty minutes away... teaching school... we knew that he was nearing the end... I made the trip in less than 15 minutes... my sister was there...

As I was driving, I couldn't help but think about eight days prior...

It was Sunday afternoon and my wife and four daughters were going by my parents' house after church to see them. My father was sitting on the couch watching TV when we walked in.

One at the time, we went to kiss him 'hello'. After the last of us had said 'hello', my father asked for his four granddaughters to stand in front of him... the TV was off by now... the girls stood all beautiful in their Sunday outfit in front of Pépé and smiled while looking at him... he took in their precious sight one at the time and commented how beautiful they were... calling each one to him to give her what would be their final hug and kiss and then send them on their way.

After they were all done and out of the room, Dad turned to Mom and said: "this is the last time I will get to see them... I want them to remember how I am now and I want to remember them how they are now."...

Eight days later, he died. He knew the end was near and he wanted to leave the best possible memory in his precious grandchildren's mind...

Another gift from an amazing man, François Borny.