Grandpa and a surprise trip to the States

Salvadoran: Hey Lila, why do you look so sad?
Lila: Oh, well, my grandfather passed away.
Salvadoran: Oh… well he was old, right?
Lila: Yes, he was 89.
Salvadoran: Yep, that’s old.
Lila: Sure is.

So, I’ve been to the States and back and it has been a crazy few weeks. I thought I’d have a little culture lesson for my committed readers (and by that, I mean my aunts and uncles and grandma ☺ ). So, Mick Hackett, aka grandfather, aka one of the most incredible people to walk God’s green earth, passed away a few weeks ago. Basically, I was running around town like a crazy girl trying to get a ticket booked and get home as soon as possible. As I was doing all of this, I looked, as one might imagine, terribly stressed/teary-bleary eyed. The conversation above took place several times that morning. Please forgive the generalizations here , because certainly not everyone has the same way of dealing with death here in El Salv, but I came across several people who, upon finding out the news, looked at me like it was the most natural thing to happen in the world. Old people pass away, because they are old. It makes perfect sense to the logical mind, but to the grieving heart it didn’t really bode well with me that day. I know he was 89, but that doesn’t mean I’m still not terribly sad and heartbroken for my aunts, uncle and grandmother. There were few “Awww, I’m sorries”, and no “let me know if there is anything I can dos” or pats on the back, death happens (just like taxes, awkward first dates, and parasites in a 3rd world country). It seems like such a different way of dealing with something that I thought would be pretty universal. I’m still going to be sad though, and that’s how I’ll deal with it. I guess I’ll have to indulge in a little self-pity and give myself a few pats on the back. It was a truly wonderful trip home though, despite the circumstances, but I am happy to be back to work.

Below, a Grandpa classic:

Q: Why did they outlaw the round bales of hay?
A: Because the cows couldn’t get a square meal!