| This was my essay for english. I'm pretty proud of it... Deanie I am totally convinced that Dean Merrel Feohner was one of the greatest men to ever walk the planet. He had a smile on his face no matter what, he had a passion for God and for life, and he had nothing but love for everyone he came in contact with. Deanie adopted me into his family when I was born, like he did with my parents long before me. He was there at the hospital when my mother conceived me, he helped teach me how to read, and he loved me like I was his own granddaughter. Since one of my real grandfathers died before I was born, he was like a replacement; and since he and his wife Ellen couldn't have children, they loved to "adopt" people into their growing family of loved ones. When I got older, Deanie encouraged me to do my best at school, forgive myself when I make mistakes, try my hardest to do my best at everything I do, and to love God. He also introduced me to Star Trek and I have been a diehard Star Trek fan ever since. We used to watch his Star Trek collection until one in the morning some nights, and since he had every episode ever made, we had plenty to watch. Deanie was so smart. He knew everything about everything, and he spent his time reading and learning. He always used to tell me that you never stop learning until you die. Deanie was a big teddy bear. He would always give the best hugs. I can remember one time he grew a long white beard and little kids would think he was Santa Clause. Deanie was not only a grandfather; he was a role model to me. He was someone I looked up too and tried to be like. One day when I was thirteen we got a very unfortunate phone call. Deanie was in the hospital. He had a brain tumor and was going to die in six months. He refused to do chemotherapy because he didn't want to go through that pain just to live a couple more months. My family was devastated. We drove down to see him as soon as we could. I hated seeing him like that. He was lying in a hospital bed helpless. He couldn't speak right, he couldn't eat by himself, he couldn't read or watch Star Trek or anything. I remember one day he didn't remember us. That devastated me. How could he forget me? I was his Rebecca. Deanie died on April 4th of 2003. His funeral wasn't like one of those sad funerals you usually go to. We sang upbeat songs and talked about how good of a guy he was. My mom would encourage me to cry and tell me it was ok to, but I never cried in front of anyone. However, I cried every chance I got when I was alone. In my opinion people grieve in different ways and that was my way of grieving. The day we were going home, Ellen pulled me into her room. She told me she wanted to give me Deanie's Star Trek collection. She said that he would of wanted me to have it. I know it sounds funny, but I think that's when I realized he was actually gone. He wasn't on vacation; he wasn't going to be gone for only a little while. He was gone for good, and he wasn't coming back. After we got home, my mother went into a deep depression, and my father didn't say much. When we go to visit his wife Ellen, their house seems so empty without him there. I keep on expecting him to just come around the corner and give us all one of his famous bear hugs, but he never does. When someone you love dies, it's like someone cuts your heart open. You are in so much pain for a long time, but eventually your heart begins to heal. You think about it less and less. You always know there will always be a scar on your heart; you will always love and miss the people you lose. Deanie is still alive in our hearts and our memories. He will never be forgotten by the people who knew him, and he will always be missed. |
