a special grandfather

I first met my father-in-law three and a half years ago when my soon-to-be wife introduced me to her parents and I explained my desire to marry their daughter. Since then I have felt part of the family and I am so grateful for my parents-in-law including me in their lives, accepting me as their son-in-law, and always being kind to me. Before my wife got pregnant we came to visit them in Fukuoka as often as we could. At first I could almost not communicate at all without my wife being there to help me, but with my improving Japanese skills, after having been living close to my parents-in-law for almost six months, seeing them many times a week, I have got to know them on a little deeper level.

Our son’s grandfather was very fond of kids. For over forty years he was a baseball coach for children in elementary school, and after he retired from work he volunteered as a greeting uncle outside the elementary school, every morning, be it rain or sun, hot or cold, greeting the children when they were coming to school. When there was a student who seemed sad, he always tried to put a smile on the students face and having been hearing stories about him, I get the feeling that he helped and improved the lives of many in his community.

My wife’s father loved his daughter very very much. When we first met he looked at me and said that she was his treasure, and when he got the news that he would be grandfather again, he became so so happy. I am very thankful that our son got to meet and know his Japanese grandfather. Our son was so loved by him. When we were living in Tokyo he always called just to hear our little baby’s babble and we did video talks on the weekends when I could see his face light up in a big big smile every time he saw his grandson. After we moved to Fukuoka my father-in-law came to see his little grandson as often as he could, and me and my son often took our bicycle to go and meet his grandparents and play with his grandfather’s vacuum cleaner. Every time, my son was so happy and his absolutely best self afterwards. 

My wife’s father, my father-in-law, our son’s grandfather quietly passed away November 5. I had come to feel great love and respect for him and he will be greatly missed but he will be with us every day in the laughter and happiness of our son who loved his grandfather so so much.