Circle of Life
Do you remember attending your first Major League Baseball game? I do. My grandfather, Walter Glenn Holliday, and my grandmother took my brother and I to the Astrodome to see the Houston Astros play. I don’t remember who we played. I do know that the Astrodome was an amazing structure in its time. I remember the bright stripes on the Astros uniforms. I know that the Astros won the game by a large margin because fans assured of victory began leaving by the droves in the hopes of missing all the post-game traffic. My grandfather, who hates driving in traffic more than most, continued to sit to my surprise. He knew the tradition of lighting up the huge scoreboard when the Astros won and he did not want my brother or I to miss out on this experience. And, it was grand.
I also remember my Papa, as the grandkids call him, taking my brother and I to Nasa’s Space Center. He took us the Houston Ship Channel. We even went on a boat tour. He took the whole family to Lake Travis and drove the boat around the lake for a couple of days while others water skied. Most of all, I remember him taking us to church. In fact after almost a week of Vacation Bible School, I remember telling him, “No more church.”
Walter Glenn Holliday holding my baby Andrew.
Anyway, I have been reflecting on my grandfather because he is dying. He has congestive heart failure and is not doing well. Yesterday I took my whole family to Houston to see him and say goodbye. It was an emotionally exhausting day. But nonetheless, it was a good day, too.
My grandfather is a visionary man. He was always trying to think of ways to make lots of money. He raised show dogs, he raised pigs, he invested in a trigger hitch for pick-up trucks, etc. He is a man of creative ideas. However, he never became incredibly wealthy. I just wrote about being rich in “Pot of Gold.” As evident from the stream of visitors yesterday and the ones who are coming today, my grandfather has lived an incredibly rich life.
My mom was just telling me about a rose bush she saw. On the bush were buds just forming, buds about to bloom, roses ready to be cut, roses beginning to fade, etc. She said it made her stop and think. On this one bush were all the stages of life, and it was still beautiful.
As we visited yesterday and watched my two youngest boys play together in the parlor of my grandfather’s house, my uncle said, “This is the circle of life.” And it is. In one room, two young children at the beginning of their lives are laughing and playing. And just down the hall, a man lays in bed at the end of his. As hard as it is, it is a beautiful thing, too.
Let’s not fear this natural cycle. Let’s not keep our children from it. Let’s experience the joys and pains in life so that together you have a whole existence. My boys, for example, have seen that it is not shameful for a man to cry. There are lessons to be learned in everything, including the circle of life.
We would appreciate any prayers for comfort and peace at this time for the family and friends of Glenn Holliday.
I will be praying for your family; I know first-hand how difficult it can be to have a loved one diagnosed with congestive heart failure. My own Daddy was diagnosed with it several years ago; then, at age 49, he died in hospital of complications ( heart attack). He had been talking and joking with the nurses only a few minutes prior… My uncle was diagnosed it with congestive heart failure just a few weeks ago. Our hearts and prayers, again, are with you and all of your family..
And with your uncle, too. My grandfather died peacefully at 1:04 p.m. Friday afternoon. We appreciate your prayers for the family.
Honey: What a beautiful article, and what a beautiful man. I am proud to call him Daddy, and proud to call you “my little sister”. I love you. Aunt Toys
I am so sorry about your grandfather, Lara.