Holiday adventures PART 4: California Christmas Spirit

Christmas day my dad and baby sister were on their way from New Mexico to join us in AZ, when he called to tell me that my grandfather, my "Poppy" was dying.
Now, Poppy has been dying since he was in his 20's and had an appendectomy so rushed they skipped the anesthesia. He's had so many lethal medical prognoses that we've all just routinely ignored them, seeing as how Poppy was never in a rush for anything (He was a cowboy. Cowboys mosey), and had a will much stronger than any illness. But this time was different. He'd told my Nana goodbye.
So my sister E and I packed up and as soon as they arrived we drove all night to get to California in time, having a little mobile Christmas party for baby sister M on the way. When we got there, he was still awake and could manage a few words. It was a Christmas gift straight from heaven for me to have had the chance to introduce him to Little One.
I asked if he knew who She was, and he did. I held Her out to him, and his eyes sparkled and he smiled. Then I put Little One down on his chest, so he could hold Her. She did her Little One thing, wriggling Herself up to cuddle position and nestling in all cozy. And then, She reached up over Her head, to where Poppy's hands were resting, and She closed Her tiny hand around his finger. And just like that, holding his hand, She fell asleep. There is something about having a baby around, a little reminder of the beginning of life, that changes the tone of a life near its end. That smile from Poppy was priceless. And I think that Little One helped to keep us all buoyed in our sadness in the next few days. Since this was everyone's first time meeting Her, it was an interesting combination of joy and grief, but it somehow blended well, and sort of reinforced the importance of family, at least for me.
All of us- aunts, uncles, cousins- were there when Poppy passed away. And we celebrated his life that night by eating his favorite dinner- chilli-cheese dogs- and telling stories about how great and kind and important and funny he was. And he was a helluva guy, really.
I'm sorry that Little One won't know Her great-grandpoppy. Because he was the kind of grandfather that never let you down. I'm sorry that She won't remember meeting him and even sorry that She won't remember the whole trip, exhausting and tear-soaked as it was. But I hope She'll still get something out of my telling her about it, because I think it was a real-life Christmas story with a message; the kind that TLC can't even compete with.
Families can be crazy. Mine is no exception. But This Christmas, we all pulled together and were there for Poppy when there were important things to be said, and were there for Nana when she had to let go of someone she had loved for over 70 years. We were there for each other. Christmas is about so many things, but love and family are definitely on that list, waaaay above red bows and sugar cookies.
I asked my baby sister what she thinks happens when someone dies. She told me that she thinks that their spirit gets to go free and fly around the world, wherever that person wants to go, so they can see anything they want to see. Then, when their spirit gets really old too, it goes to heaven, or it might become a new person. Which I think is a really well-rounded theology for and eight-year-old.
I asked her if she understood what it meant that Poppy was dead, and she said yes, and that she knew that he is never going to wake up, never going to come back. And that everyone is sad because they miss him, because he was nice. BUT, she reminded me, we still get to love him, just the same. And probably, he is having fun not being sick anymore. Probably, she guesses, his spirit is flying over to Texas, as we speak.
My Poppy, he was the most stubborn cowboy you ever met. For decades he was too stubborn to die, and until the end he was still pissed off about leaving the ranch in Texas to move to California. So I like M's take on things and I like to look up and think about Poppy and his spirit, flying away to the pastures of El Paso. And I like to think, good for you, Poppy. You fly.
Even though I'm truly heartbroken to have lost such a wonderful person from my life, I'm grateful to have had the gift of being able to get there, of being able to see Little One meet him, of having known him, of being able to say goodbye. And for being reminded what it's all about, what really matters. Thanks, Poppy. I hope I can pass those along to Little One, one day.

"The best gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence of a family, all wrapped up in each other" ~ Burton Hills

I don't have any pictures from the Cali contingent of the Little One fan club, though I assure you Cali represents. It's just that Little One and I were too busy this time, being members ourselves in a different fan club. Poppy's. It's a lifetime membership. But here is a picture of the oldest...ahem...longest participating member of the Poppy fan club with the newest members.
And here is one with Little One's chapter.
And this is Poppy.