Today I got the call. I was expecting it to come some time in the next year or so. But I was not expecting it to be today. Today, this morning, My Grandfather, Victor Oscar Hayward, died. Less than one month after his 83rd, or was it 82nd? Birthday. he made a good run. and until this last couple of months, it's been a very healthy one. However, less than a year ago, he was diagnosed with Cancer. I believe it was of the bladder. So he went for treatment. It sound like it wasn't doing so good. I had moved into his lungs.
I haven't had a chance to talk about it, but I believe it was a heart attack. He had his first one a couple of days ago. I think it was a couple of days ago. The days have gone by so fast the last two months. Last i heard they were having trouble bringing his heart rate back down. I'm sad to see him go. but I am glad he didn't have to go through the worst that cancer has to offer.
I love you Grandpa, and I always will. I will always strive tobe a little like you.
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About my Grandfather:
Born in the northern half of Saskatchewan. The 10th of 13 children. young enough that he never really knew some of them. I believe he still has a sister who's still around.
During WWII he was in the military, but he never left the country. It made it so that I'm around, so I'm happy about that.
He worked for the railroad when my father was born. him and my grandma Lived in moye. in a small house by the tracks. I think that was for only about a year. Then they moved into the house next door to my Great Grand parents (Grandma's Side) Nana(Kathryn?) Armstrong, and (Pop)Howard Armstrong.
The took the top level off of the house and gave it a new roof. They lived there, together, for the rest of his life. Where my father grew up. and where I had the pleasure of doing pieces of my growing up.
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When I was a kid, My grandfather:
Taught me how to play checkers and how to play Cribbage, and badminton, and how to work the Commodore 64. He has an electric race-car track set-up in the basement, that was a lot of fun.
there's also a wooden sword he made, that I liked.
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He played baseball until my early teens, until his joints got a little to soar.
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I am not sure how old I was, but when I was young, one summer, me and my grandfather pulled all of his bottles and cans out of the shed to be sorted. It took us all day. Back then you had to sort them into pepsi and coke piles, because you didn't get as much back if you took them to the wrong one. once you were there, you sorted them into flats of the same size. then they gave you what it was worth.
I had a lot of fun doing that with him. The next year we did the same thing. He had a little cart that he pulled behind his bicycle, and when he saw a can he would pick-it up and throw it in. So when it cam summer, and time to sort the cans, he had so many, it completely filled that little shed. It was great spending the time with my grandpa. After we sorted, and took the cans in, he gave me the money for them. I think he said "Money for the summer". but I didn't really understand. I didn't do it for the money, I did it to spend the time with him. And I guess that's why he did it too. So we could do it together. I'm going to miss getting to do things with him.
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he worked a good while as security for Fort Steel Park. So that meant he wasn't always at home, or wasn't awake, when I was there. But it sure did make him a great tour guide it you went through the park. He knew the performers, so he was a little more than willing to be pull ed up on stage for that part of the show. I think it embarrassed my grandma a little. Mmmm, old time candy sticks from the heritage town candy store (rum-butter it the best).
When it cam the age where he had to retire from that job, he became Custodian/Janitor at the local High School. He took me with him one day. It was kind of interesting. I got a lot of cool mechanical pencils, pens, and the likes out of that. I like fancy mechanical pencils. maybe to much. When he worked there, he went back to school. He never finished high school as a kid. being a farm kid and all, it was not all that unusual. but when he went back, it was awesome. He managed to complete everything but his math. I don't blame him. but having probably 50 years since his last math class, I applaud him. he passed every class but that. I don't think I could do the math now, even being only 13 years out of high school.
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When He finally retired, he played Golf, and Curling. He got really good at golf. I don't think I ever could be. I admired that he still did those kind of thing in his later years. I hope I can live long enough to do something like it.
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I looked up to my grandfather, and I still do.
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in 2005 we celebrated my grandparent's 50th Anniversary.
when I went there last, his room in the basement, the one full of amazing tools and electronics from a different era, was a little bit empty. He didn't have his Shortwave Radio, or Moris code equipment set up anymore. it was gone. We talked about some things, like my dad's truck. I like my dad't truck. I think he wanted to work in there to ask if I wanted his truck. I think I steered away from it. not because I wouldn't use it, but because I din't want to acknowledge his mortality. It seemed a little like he was trying to give thing away. All I wanted was for him to know that I love him.
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The last time we visited I went with him as he went for chemo. I can't say it was the most interesting thing to do, or that we has stuff to talk about the whole way through. But I am glad I got to spend that time with him.
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If we ever have children, it makes me very very sad that they will never get to meet him.
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In the basement, next to his engraving tool, he had a set of token medals that marked all of his "hole-in-one"s. I don't really want anything now that he's died. just something to remember him by. I think I will ask I f I can have them.
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