detour

more than ever, i have been finding that life is going to throw stuff at you that you didn't think would happen. no matter how much we prepare or what our expectations are, there is no way for us to know what the next moment brings, and sometimes we have to detour.

my grandpa lorney has been in and out of the hospital for a while now. i don't fully understand the complexities of medicine, but i do know that as long as i can remember my grandpa had battled heart problems. over the years there were a few times that we weren't sure if he would pull through, but he always did, and within the week he'd be out on the golf course again.

i've always admired my grandpa's wit, charm, and talent. an artist and ad man, my grandpa has books full of sketches, advertisements, commercial storyboards, and other things that i have always loved pouring through. his paintings embody a style i love so much and often try to imitate in my own design work. on top of it, he was a talented songwriter and a very strong people person. most of all, i admire grandpa for his love for his family, who he would have gone to the moon and back a hundred times for.

yesterday, grandpa lorney passed away at the fulfilling age of 85. as much as we all could have prepared for it, the death of such a loved man is not an easy loss for my family. it's obvious that a little part of my grandpa lives within each of us: my dad's passion for his family and musical talent, my sister's ability to talk to anyone and sharp wit, and my love for art and design are pieces of my grandpa that are planted deep within our hearts.

his funeral service is on monday, so i am flying out of heathrow to minneapolis to be with my family for a few days and then returning to resume my time here in london. i'm not upset that i am leaving for a few days, nor am i really angry that my grandpa is no longer with us. it's a weird feeling of thankfulness and sadness that i know we are all trying to understand. it's no secret that my grandpa would want us all to be together, not in sadness but to celebrate his life.

so, with that said, the blog posts will be on hold for a bit. but not to worry! i will be back soon, adventuring through london as my grandpa was so excited for me to do.