letters from my grandfather. part one.

received July 2nd, 2008.

(text - in case you can't see the picture)

HOWARD F. JOHNSON
LT. (J.G.) US NAVY
WORLD WAR II
APRIL 30, 1921
______, _______

Sarah: This is the way my tombstone should read. I'm sending this to you because you'll probably be the one who will get it done. I don't plan to leave soon but who knows?

Love,
Grandpa.

This is one example of the letters that I get on a monthly basis from my grandfather. It's tough to deal with him sometimes. He's getting old (87 last month), and he's very negative most of the time. Our conversations revolve around his death, his childrens' death, what has gone wrong in (insert family member's name here)'s life, etc.

This letter struck me as funny on my first read, but I guess maybe it's a little depressing. It's just so strange for me to think about writing about death so matter-of-factly. Like, hey honey - here's my tombstone - thanks for taking care of it. As simple as picking up dinner from a drive-through.

I have a lot more of these letters, so maybe i'll make this a regular feature. and i'll file this away for 'someday'.