Bit of advice

[joboy]

Sad indeed David ...... unfortunately none of us know when someone will be lost to us.
Like others have said on this topic about their children not having a great interest in family history I have experienced the same and despaired somewhat as a result.
But because I have become the old sage of my family history it so happened that I found that my son in law's line were having a grand get together this month on the Riverina (Southern NSW) I told my son in law and his son (my grandson ..now 27) and they immediately contacted the organizers to get the details and will attend ..... the estimates are that over 200 will be present,some from overseas,......... so you will appreciate the tales and information that will be swapped and I know that my two attendees will have a totally different attitude to family history now.
David at age 31 you have it all before you as to how you discover more about your grandad ......... I started my family interests at age 74 (now 84) and am amazed at what I have learned by using any resource .......... rootschat alone has been a great help.
Just start asking questions ......... we are all here to help and support.
Joe

[Rishile]

My condolences to you for the loss of your grandfather, Vasquez.

I think we all have the stories of the one that got away.  In my case it was my father.  I was never that close to him until my mother died then we seemed to ‘bond’.  He rarely spoke about his family or his past but in the last couple of years of his life he hinted at some war-time escapades but, unfortunately, I never followed it up.  I never knew my grandfather because he died before I was born but how I wish I had questioned my father about him now. 

It was about 10 years later that I got interested in family history and all I keep thinking now is ‘I bet my dad would have found all this interesting’, but, of course it is too late.

Regrets and anger are all part of your grief and they will fade in time.  As you find the answers to the questions you would have asked your grandfather, the grief will fade even more. 

Don’t be too hard on yourself.

Rishile

[RedMystic]

I'm sorry to hear of your loss Vasquez, and doubly sorry to hear of your regrets. As others have pointed out, don't be hard on yourself. Life gets in the way. Take solace in the fact that you're honouring & enjoying the past with your interest in FH.

My grandmother passed away in July in her 101st year. She was with the picture until 4 days before she died and I enjoyed our visits. Six weeks AFTER she died, a distant relative contacted me to see if I could confirm that there was a third child born to my grandma's parents that didn't survive. It was the first I'd heard of it, but he thinks he found a baptismal record for a 4-day-old baby - & he apparently found the record YEARS ago.

It could be so, though my dad, uncle & aunt have no recollection of hearing of it.  Why on earth did this fellow wait so long to ask the question when there was only 1 person that could provide the answer?  Those are the joys of our hobby.

Take care Vasquez & give yourself time to enjoy the memories you have of grandfather.