Watching my girl friends grandpa die

[keithy_19]

<p>I know I've been posting in this forum a lot lately, so if you don't feel like reading whatever I have to say, be my guest.</p><p>I was with my girl as I am every friday. Her dad is cuban and their family have a way of dealing with boy friends. The basically make you become part of the family. Rather annoying, but I guess I can see why they would do that. </p><p>I've gone over their friends homes, spent time with cousins, uncles, brothers, you name it. Tonight was different though. We went out to the hospital to visit her grandpa who is terribly ill and doesn't have evry long to live. I felt really uncomfortable standing in a hospital room watching a man who I have never met wither away in front of me. I'm always trying my best to be there for her, but this just seemed strange to me. I understand becoming comfortbale with the family, but this seemed a little much. Maybe I'm completely wrong. </p><p>For the record I'm not mad about this or anything, it just struck me as strange. </p>

[KC2OSO]

<p>Not wrong, just maybe unfamiliar at the moment my friend.&nbsp; Death and dying are usually things avoided in this myopic culture.&nbsp; It's all around.&nbsp; In a way, you might be flattered you got to go see him pass.&nbsp; That's a big thing.<br /></p><p>Good folks share love, happiness, kids, sickness, death, debt, and whatever.</p><p>It's very cool that you went.</p>

[mdr55]

Don't worry about it. Different cultures have different
traditions/beliefs/customs. You said that you're girlfriend's family is
Cuban. Like other latin american cultures, it's very family oriented.
For them to bring you into their inner circle to see their grandfather
means that they have accepted you into their extended family. So don't
fret too much about it and just provide your support to them in their
time of giref/need weh nit comes.<br />

[suggums]

<p>&nbsp;</p><strong>KC2OSO</strong> wrote:<br /><p>Not wrong, just maybe unfamiliar at the moment my friend. Death and dying are usually things avoided in this myopic culture. It's all around. In a way, you might be flattered you got to go see him pass. That's a big thing.<br /></p><p>Good folks share love, happiness, kids, sickness, death, debt, and whatever.</p><p>It's very cool that you went.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>not a word i could add, well put&nbsp;</p>

[johnniewalker]

<strong>KC2OSO</strong> wrote:<br /><p>Not wrong, just maybe unfamiliar at the moment my friend. Death and dying are usually things avoided in this myopic culture. It's all around. In a way, you might be flattered you got to go see him pass. That's a big thing.<br /></p><p>Good folks share love, happiness, kids, sickness, death, debt, and whatever.</p><p>It's very cool that you went.</p>I like how when other people have a method of doing something its a function of their culture, if certain american people do something or don't do something its regarded as myopic. Kind of cynical. Its really up to the person with the illness and the family. My grandpa was in a coma after taking a bad fall, and he never liked having people see him in pain or illness, even close family. Some people are proud. I don't think its so much of a certain way we should all do things or aspire to. <br /><p> </p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by johnniewalker on 9-23-06 @ 11:34 PM</span>

[sr71blackbird]

<strong>suggums</strong> wrote:<br /><p>&nbsp;</p><strong>KC2OSO</strong> wrote:<br /><p>Not wrong, just maybe unfamiliar at the moment my friend. Death and dying are usually things avoided in this myopic culture. It's all around. In a way, you might be flattered you got to go see him pass. That's a big thing.<br /></p><p>Good folks share love, happiness, kids, sickness, death, debt, and whatever.</p><p>It's very cool that you went.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>not a word i could add, well put&nbsp;</p><p>Ditto!</p>

[Coach]

<strong>KC2OSO</strong> wrote:<br /><p>Not wrong, just maybe unfamiliar at the moment my friend.&nbsp; Death and dying are usually things avoided in this myopic culture.&nbsp; It's all around.&nbsp; In a way, you might be flattered you got to go see him pass.&nbsp; That's a big thing.<br /></p><p>Good folks share love, happiness, kids, sickness, death, debt, and whatever.</p><p>It's very cool that you went.</p><p>Uber cool!&nbsp; It is a compliment to you that they accepted you and felt a measure of comfort from your being there...Although in my Irish culture...they would be thinking that you are going to ask her to marry you...and be passing you a flask to prep for pre wake mode. (I spent a week in an alcohol induced haze when my HS girlfriend's grandfather was sick..and died ooofah the wake! I was hung over for two days!)</p><p>Bravo for being there shows them that you really care about her!</p>