Tears in my eyes. Gah.

I've written here before about the silly banter between my granparents on my dad's side.  Typically, it involves Grandpa telling Grandma how lucky she is, vocally considering trading her in for a better model, etc.  And of course, she usually giggles and says, "Yes, dear . . . I'm very lucky."

 

I just learned that Grandpa, after much medical crap going on this year including a stroke, had to head into the hospital again, this time for an infection.  He's not as, well, with-it any more.  He gets confused.  And he's used to being both independent and in charge, so having to take so many orders has made him cranky, and sometimes downright impossible.

 

He'll be in the hospital for a few days, and he's stable and alert, but not always as sharp as we want him to be.  The following story comes courtesy of Uncle Bill, one of the Best Men I've Ever Met Ever.  Last night, Grandma and Grandpa were sitting next to each other on the edge of the hospital bed, chatting quietly, as they often do.  Grandpa said, "You know, there's only one thing I would have done differently with my life."  Grandma's heart sank, because she can't imagine ANY different kind of life.  She truly feels like the luckiest girl in the world with him by her side, so she's disappointed that he might have some serious life regret weighing on his conscience.  He continued, "I should have married you sooner."

 

Enter tears.

 

First of all, they married when he was 18 and she was 17.  Second, given his tendency for silly, disrespectful jokes, this was the last thing anyone expected him to say.  Sure, sometimes he'll joke in a self-depricating way and tell her she's crazy for marrying him (instead of the typical other way around), but I never hear him get mushy.  Third, (and Uncle Bill didn't comment on this, but I'll assume), I bet Grandma's heart almost burst. 

 

I love them SO much.