"Sometimes bad things happen to good people"

This is a quote I throw around a lot when I'm helping friends with their problems, but I never realized how stupid it was until it was sent my way.

At around 1:45PM today I learned that my grandfather, who has been in a nursing home for the past few months, passed away. When he got out of the hospital the doctor doubted that he would last 'til the end of July, but we are fighters. My mother came home shortly after and said those dreaded words to me, hoping it could somehow lift my mood. However, as I got to thinking about it, it simply made no sense. I'm not the best person in the world, but I'm a good guy. When I see someone in trouble or down, I don't have to be extremely good friends (or friends at all) with them to try to help out. Yet, for some reason, things rarely go my way, and if they do, I end up having to lose something to get my way. What's the point in doing good things if your actions are never rewarded?

Despite my dad and grandfather having a bad relationship, he treated me like a king (which was ironic, since he was always referred to as "King" by his geezer friends). My parents tell me it's because I look so much like him when he was my age, but I've never seen any pictures to prove this theory. I never met my mother's father due to him dying before me or any of my siblings were born, so that only made me and my grandfather closer. For this reason, I have been chosen to make some sort of speech during his wake this Saturday. I'm fairly sure I will be making a complete and total fool of myself because 1) I have no idea what I'm gonna say and 2) 90% of the audience will not understand English. What's more, my mother, father and older brother will be going to Haiti (his birth country) on August 17th for the burial and will not be back until August 24th. For those who are close to me, you know this is the week of our trip to Florida. I spent this entire week wishing we didn't have to go, and the phrase "be careful what you wish for" never made more sense to me. God finally decided to bless my horrible situation and I was able to convince my parents to let me watch over my little devil sister for the entire week as we live off our endless supply of soda cans and chinese food. So yeah, I'll still be on PC and MSN, and Skype whenever my voice stops cracking, but a fair warning: the friendly neighborhood gummybear is currently out of service. Comments and condolences are appreciated.

R.I.P. Normil "King"​

I'm so sorry about this, Gummy. I.. I never know what to say in these situations, but you know I'm here for you if you need someone to just talk to. So is Ein, Fiona, and everyone else.

My condolences to you, Gummy.

Gummy. I'm sorry for your loss.
You are a good guy. You really are. I know what you are going through is tough. But like you say "we Blains are fighters" so I know you'll be strong and pull through.
I hope you are okay. I send my condolences to you and your family. Remember we're always here for you if you need us.

Gummy, as silly as it might sound, you don't do good things to be rewarded. You should do good things because you want to do them and because it -is- the right thing to do.
I don't think that doing right, or wrong, has anything to do with what has happened. I am very sorry that it has, and I understand how hard it is to lose someone so close that you love.
Regardless, I think it is really noble of you to say a speech. I think that you shouldn't worry yourself with what others think of it. I think you should just say something really true to your heart.

I'm sorry I'm not that great at giving any condolences, but I'm just trying to say stuff that is true to my heart. I know times are really difficult right now, but I also know you're a strong guy. Death happens to all of us, and it was unfortunate that it had to happen now. I do hope that he has had a smooth transition to the afterlife, and I hope that the funeral also goes smoothly.

I know you and I aren't that close, but I'll be here if you need me, or if you just want to talk about anything.
Remember to stay strong. I'll be praying for you and your family.

~Kura

I don't know what to say, just that I'm sorry. :[

Don't wanna sound like a total b****... But your grandfather dies and you worry about a trip to Florida... I know when my Father's mom finally dies I won't be shedding a tear nor will I be going to her funeral.. I don't know if you had a similar relationship with him, like I have with that old hag.. But if it were my mothers parents I would postpone everything...

Still losing a grandparent kinda doesn't seam like a big deal to me (Seeing that I lost a parent)... But anyway I hope you feel better, and I envy you.. A weekend without your parents... So take care of yourself.. ;)

Gummy, Idont know you well, But i feel your pain. My Grandmother just recntly past away, and its been tough. Im so sorry for your loss. But you should enjoy your weekend with your parents. As for your speech, I'm shure you'l do fine.

My deepest apoligies and wishes of luck.

OH and god bless you and your family.

Now, I said the following on MSN to our dear Gummy.. because, well, just read it. XD;However, I now have a couple more things to say, after reading some of the blog replies, and one of the comments really pissed me off, and I know it really bugged Gummy, and I even have permission from him to say this, yaaay. XD;That's all I'm gunna say now, considering that I don't want to get myself all worked up, and I don't want it to bug or hurt Gummy anymore.. but damn, that comment was not nice.

She better watch out, before I go all crazy scots-woman with my stabbin' pen and attack her. D:

*Hugs Gummz* Remember, we're all here (except maybe the heartless b**** up there) but all the same, we're here, and we loves you, and want you to be happy. <3 May your grandfather rest in peace.

I know what you're going through here dude, it's tough but things work themselves out man.

I know what it's like to lose a family member, Gummy. It's not a fun experience. It's really, really not. I can understand what you're going through right now.. and I'm honestly so, so sorry. I don't even know what to begin to say, but you know, you can tell he loved you and you loved him. Your friends are here for you, and you need to remember that we always will be. Always.

I love you. <33

Okay... at first I wasn't gonna comment because I didn't know what to say. But just thought I should say that I hope things get better for you in the future. I haven't lost anyone close before so I don't know how it feels, but I did lose one of my grandparents once so.. I could slightly relate to you there. Yeah I suck with words so gonna conclude this with just saying.. yeah I care. :3 So really if you need anyone to talk to, I'll be there to listen.

Angela, people cope with things in different ways, when my great grandmother passed away over christmas, i didn't cry, I went into work, then to the pub. It's not that i didn't love gran, i did, a lot, but I just dealt with it in my own way. Gummy's worrying about the trip and looking after his sister is how he's dealing with it, and to be frank, you don't really have any place to criticize that.

Gummy, I'm real sorry for your loss. I know I don't really know you and stuff but if you want to vent or something feel free to drop me a line.

i am sorry for your loss, but i pray for you to pull through. (I cant belive most pokemon fans are really christans.

Gummy, I am REALLY sorry. And I actually mean that, not like some other times. Gummy, you are probably my bestest friend, I hope you can get through it. If you just wanna talk, or anything, I'll be there, ready to lend a hand.

Sorry Bear, I'll be praying for you and your family tonight. <333

I feel really bad for not being here, but...whats needed to be said has been said. I'll be there if you need to talk.

Posting here again 'cause I worry too much

I'm very, very sorry Gummy. I lost my pop last year, and it's the anniversary of his death next month. I just wanted to say that I understand how you feel - my grandfather meant a lot to me. Life may seem like a complete waste of time, and you may feel like you've got no purpose, but things do get better.

Now my family can talk about him without there being a complete silence or someone leaving the room, and we know he's in a better place, and that he's happy.

I'm sure your grandfather is in a better place.

My best wishes and condolences to you.

...yeah, definitely knows how hard it is to lose someone so close to you, even recently I had to go through two of my family members passing away and that was really giving us such a hard time, still is actually.

Nevertheless, I wish you the very best, it may take some time to sink in but I know your grandfather would rather see you happy than in total mourning, and as you can see from this entry, there are many people here who are willing to support you and look out for you if you are in need of any guidance, it helps during the hard time that there are people behind you that are willing to lend an ear to anything you have to say and would even pass a few comforting words. Personally, I like to think that whenever somebody close to me has passed on, it would mean that this is the end to their suffering, that they're finally able to be in peace where nothing can ever hurt them again, and I think that's a rather beautiful thing to realise.

Anyway, I'll be keeping you in my thoughts. And if you ever want to talk about anything at all, don't be afraid to approach any friends about it, and that certainly includes me.