Death

             When I was young, I heard about death, but never really understood it. It was a hard concept for me to grasp. The true meaning was kept from me. Violence and death were portrayed all the time, everywhere I looked, but in a fantasy-like way. My grandfathers passing brought me to understand what death really meant and what accompanied it. Seeing him go through so many changes before his death made me understand it was a horrible and grueling experience for everyone involved. Understanding the concept of life and death was a major step in my coming of age.
             For the first four years of my life the only person that took care of me, other than my parents, was my grandfather, Paw Paw. He was a caring and nurturing man who was always there when I needed him. A large man, who could always strike up laughter, he reminded many of the comedian Jackie Gleason. Paw Paw was the "Candyman," always having pudding and sweets for me. He said he liked them so much. When he was younger, he could only have graham crackers and milk after his school day, which made sweets so important to him. He was a joy to be around and a very kind man.
             On the other hand, when he became sick Paw Paw was much different. When I visited him in the hospital he was not the same man I remembered, full of laughter and smiles. He was much thinner and he could not speak clearly due to a stroke he had suffered. Every time I visited the hospital, I remembered it being cold and scary like a morgue. Paw Paw seemed angry and hateful. I did not realize until years later that he must have been in extreme pain, making him act in such a manner. This all came as a shock to me and upset me a great deal.
             During the next four years I experienced his illness and eventually his death. Paw Paw was a self induced diabetic; partially caused from all the sweets he consumed. The diabetes caused him to have his leg amputat
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Death. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 07:33, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/103722.html