Love you, Max

You know those phone calls you never want to get?
Yeah. We got one of those last night at 12:50 a.m. Hearing your mom say, "Natasha Lyn" in a quivering voice on the other end makes a girl's heart sink.
My sweet neighbor Max, who has been my neighbor my whole life, who has been more of a grandpa to me than anyone else, the man who never failed to tell me how beautiful and special I was and how much he loved me, the one who told me just a few weeks ago that "Marriage isn't easy but with him, (meaning Trevor) no matter how much he frustrates you, it'll be worth it" passed away after battling his health for years.
I had just talked to my mom yesterday afternoon and she told me that Max wasn't doing well, and that when we came up for Christmas Trev and I would have to go and visit him and Lela.
Crazy how fast things can change in a mere twelve hours.
So today, November 10, even though I have a heavy heart and mind and my eyes are full of tears, I am grateful to have grown up with Max and Lela as my adopted grandparents and next door neighbors.
Max and Lela have been the best grandparents a girl could ask for; they always came to everything, whether it be theatrical performances, Christmas, birthday parties, my wedding, etc.
They always told us we were their grandchildren, even though they had plenty of their own blood grandchildren.
We were just always there, always treating them like our grandparents. It's simple to love them.
I'm grateful for the lessons that these two wonderful people have taught me.
I'm grateful for the opportunity I had to get to know Max, to love him as my grandpa, and to help him out when he started getting older.
I'm grateful for the hours I got to spend with them either talking, playing dominos or cards, or spending nights with them when my family ditched me and went to Disneyland.
I may not have gone on as many Arctic Circle runs with them as my brothers have, but I can't ever look at Arctic Circle without thinking of Max and Lela.
I'm grateful that I have wedding pictures with him in them that I will be able to cherish for years to come, as well as other pictures my mom has taken over the years.
I'm grateful that he was able to meet my husband Trevor and begin to know Trevor, and know that his "young lady" was going to be taken care of for the rest of her life.
I'm grateful for the memories that my younger brothers had with Max. They loved him as much or even more than I did. Often times, if the boys weren't in the yard playing or doing chores, they would be over at Max and Lela's talking. They were always doing stuff for Max and Lela, serving them and making sure the yard, the garbage cans, and other things were taken care of. Tedo would walk home from the bus stop every day after school and would either call Lela to tell her he was home, or Max would be outside waiting for Tedo to walk by.
I'm grateful for the positive example that Max and Lela's marriage is to me, and will continue to be. They've been married for over sixty years, and even though I could often hear Lela yelling at Max for doing something dumb growing up, I know how much they love and appreciated each other. Lela served Max right up until he passed away last night. Max told Trev and I to "never go to bed mad."

My Grandma Laura helping Max with his boutineer.

Hugs from Max after the ceremony

Love my Max.

My parents with Max and Lela

My grandparents.

Max and Lela with their beloved "grandchildren."

I'm grateful that Lela is still here with us, and that I know Max will be watching out for all of us.
I love you Max, and I'm so sorry I didn't get to tell you that one more time. Going home isn't going to be the same without knowing you're right next door. Thanks for all of the memories and countless love throughout the years. I'm going to miss you.