Louisiana Part 2 [Re-posted & More]

Introduction

I wrote this piece back in August. At the time, the possibility of visiting Grampa Chester’s grave seemed nearly unimaginable. Since then, my wife and I have shocked everyone in our family. After more than 20 years of divorce, we have found each other once more. Today, we drove to Louisiana from Houston to visit her family graveyard, tend to her grandparents, and arrange flowers.

Four months after writing the original blog, I’ve traveled more than 1000 miles to visit the final resting place of my wife’s grampa, and one of the kindest men I have ever known.

Original Post [August 4, 2020]

Only my first wife knows about this event. Since it’s been 25 years, she has probably forgotten what I told her that day in Louisiana.

The number one reason my wife and I used to visit Louisiana was to spend time with family. Her father’s people were from there. I was close to my father-in-law, and I became close to his family as well. They are good people.

Just before leaving town, my wife and I stopped to say goodbye to her grandma and grandpa. I can still see her grandfather standing in the front yard as we prepared to get back into our rental car.

As I looked at her grandfather, something happened. It was at that moment that I could see the sad truth. Neither of us would ever see that kind man again. I could see that he was going to pass away very soon.

That was the first time I had ever experienced such an event. I cannot begin to tell you how difficult it was to know such a thing. I didn’t tell my wife about it until a couple of months later, after her grandfather passed away. How do you tell someone something so profound?

The hardest part of seeing the truth was the connection between us. I could see that her grandfather knew what was coming. I could see that he knew that I could see what was coming. That moment between us was quite disturbing. I will never forget that instant connection.

I don’t know how many people experience such things. I have no idea what the percentages are or if something like this happens to many people. I hope not.

Joseph Shanklin

August 4, 2020