To the memories of my late grandpa

My dear grandfather was many things: a good father, skilled engineer, caring husband, heroic soldier, inspiring professor, cancer survivor, but most importantly he was the best grandfather out there. When I was 1.5 years old, my parents had to go to Japan to work for a living, and I was left behind with my grandparents. I don’t know if my grandpa felt sad for me as I was separated from my parents at such a young age, but I do know that he loved me more than anything else in the world. Growing up with my grandparents, I was never in lack of anything, even though my grandpa earned average salary with his professor’s job and my grandma was unemployed. Despite not being a rich couple, they did their best to provide everything for their new toddler stranded at their home. And they succeeded, too. From teaching me to read at three to providing me with military knowledge (he was a colonel in the army) he taught me a lot of things.

He valued education a lot. That is why he instilled in me the core values that I cherish to this day. The year I graduated high school, I was applying for colleges in the US. I was taking the SATs, had to pay a lot of fees. That same year, my grandpa retired from teaching at MUST (Mongolian University of Science and Technology) and received a retirement package. He gave me 1.5 million tugriks to pay for my application fees. Heck, I even wrote about him and my younger days spent with him on all my college application essays. Even to WestPoint. I owe him the fact that I am a college student at a fairly prestigious university. I thank him for being my first and best teacher. He has directly and indirectly influenced my educational path a lot.

When he came home from work every evening, he would eat dinner and do the chores after a long, tiring day at work. But I have never heard him complain. He would wash the dishes, the floor, his clothes, and iron it sometimes. Never seen him tired. After finishing his chores, he would come to the living room and watch whatever series was on with me and grandma. Come to think of it, I was introduced to the cultural phenomenon that is Korean drama by my grandparents as well. They were avid TV fans.

He never yelled at me. Not a single time. When he had his occasional quarrels with my grandma, he never raised his volume. He always settled for the peaceful option. The pacifist in our household.

When I was in AD as a freshman with a lot of issues at hand, he made sure to call me every week and offer some companionship. The advice he used to give me every week pulled me through freshman year.

At 37, he was diagnosed with gastric cancer. Following the urgent surgery he had, his lower body paralyzed for almost two years. And my family at that time did not have access to any form of physical therapy. But after two years of intensive effort, he walked again. He pulled through those dark times through sheer determination.

His death was very sudden. One black morning in September I woke up, and he was gone. Forever. Not to return. To this day, I still can’t fully accept the fact that he is gone. But even in death, he continues to guide me. His words still permeate my mind as if he is standing right beside me. Some nights I dream of him. So vividly. And I cry every time that happens. Oh, just how much I wish to see him again.

But I like to think that his legacy lives in me. I am his direct descendant, that means I have the power to pull through these hardships I am facing at the moment like how he pulled through years of paralysis. In a way, I am a continuation of his life.

Thank you for making me, grandpa. Miss you tons.