I love you, grandpa.

Instructions

I love you, grandpa. He passed away today, technically yesterday. January 27, 1947 - November 27, 2021 He was 74 years old. I really wish he was here with us longer. This is why I am so blessed to be here in America. My family started off living in Cambodia, during the time where the Cambodian Civil War was taking place at that time. My grandma and grandpa were one of many people to be held captive, tortured, and put into hard labor for the Khmer Rouge. They had many kids, but they all didn't survive, except for my dad, who was the only sibling. They eventually got rescued, and were sent to the U.S as refugees. They didn't have much to start off with, so they lived in the ghetto areas. There was also a problem with racism in the U.S, worse than how we have it today. Over the years, me and my brother also were raised in the ghetto. My dad grew up to be a gang member one time in his life. He made some bad choices ever since high school. He eventually got to open up to God, and become a Christian around 2010. My mom and dad usually worked when me and my brother were little, so my grandma and grandpa would take care of us every weekday. They would always feed us, take us to school, go play with the neighbors, keep us safe, etc. We got to see our parents during the weekends or on school breaks. Until 2014, thing started to get better. We found a new home away from the ghetto, and we were finally going to live in a peaceful area. I remember I was 6 during the time. Things kept on getting better ever since. We moved into a few homes, but the more we moved, the better the house, the area, etc. We also are blessed to have more furniture, essentials for our home, things we never got to have before. Here I am now, living a great life. We sometimes may take our life for granted, because it can be difficult sometimes. But, sometimes just look back at what you didn't have, and appreciate everything you have now. Especially appreciate the family you have that were always there for you during the whole experience of your life. In conclusion, this wouldn't be possible without my mom (her side of the family also went through the same trauma), my dad, my grandma, and especially my grandpa. I love you, grandpa. You'll hold a special place in my memories, and my heart.