Finally, an update... for the past month

Hello loyal readers! I apologize for taking so long to update my blog. Life threw me a curve-ball last month, and I didn't know quite how to hit it. Let me explain:

My grandfather John D. McCleary (Grandpa Doc to me and his other grandchildren) passed away on Thursday, March 22. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer, but had been given a year-and-a-half or so to live... so when he died of a massive stroke, it was a bit of a shock to me. The last time I saw him was before I left for Spain, around 8 months ago, and he was as healthy as ever. I was able to see him a few times over a webcam, but it still wasn't the same as actually being there with him. When he was diagnosed with cancer, I never realized how serious it might be. He had already survived a brain tumor and prostate cancer before, why should he not be able to battle it this time? Regardless, on March 22, I received an email saying he was in the hospital and to call home. My father told me over the phone that things were not looking good, so I immediately booked a flight home. I called home again a couple hours later to find out he had passed away about 30 minutes before my second call. The next day I found myself on a plane back to the US, and after 24 hours I was in Billings, MT, being greeted by my family.

My Grandpa Doc :) His obituary can be read here.

The whole experience was kind of surreal. There I was, in MT... and I wasn't supposed to be there for another 3 months. My parents, sister, and aunt were going to be visiting me in Spain that week, but instead I was back in MT seeing everyone (my grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins). It was a very difficult and emotional time for all of us, but we were very lucky to not only have each other, but also many friends and extended family offering support.

I stayed in Montana two weeks, and was able to see the majority of my family. I even was able to go to Bozeman to visit my other grandparent's, family, and friends. So not all of the time was sadness, some of it was fun. I was able to watch John McLellan sing and play guitar, I was able to play a Nintendo Wii for the first time, and I was able to relax with friends and family. I even had my 22nd birthday while I was home (April 2)... but it didn't feel much like a birthday party with all that had happened. Ooh, and I saw snow!!! I was a bit bummed that I hadn't seen snow, since Valencia's climate doesn't really allow for snow... but while I was in Montana, we received the April snow storms!!! Yay!

 Left: SNOW!!! Right: Drive to Bozeman.

Left: Ellen, Jared, Brock, and ME! Right: Me and the ladies, Chandra and Ellen, aka Chellen

Left: 2 Trips and the 'Rents Right: Cousin Dave, Sister steph, and half of Dad on the left

 John playing Guitar and AJ singing back up... man they rock!

Now I am back in Valencia. I have been back for two weeks, but for a week and a half I was sick with a bad cold, so I didn't feel like writing this blog. Now I am better, and have started back into classes. It wasn't too difficult to get back into speaking Spanish... heck, I even think I might speak Spanish a bit more fluently after being gone for two weeks! I am having a hard time getting my homework done, as I have more than a week of classes to catch up on... but I should be able to get it all done soon, if I just work at it.

Well, this blog is already long enough, so I think I will end it here. Mid next week, I will post a blog not only about what I did this weekend, but also about something very special that I experienced last month... FALLAS!!! Yeah, I still haven't blogged on Fallas, and I need to put up pictures and such to remember it. It might be a long blog, so set aside 5 hours to read it! (just kidding)

Grandpa Doc, we all love and miss you. Rest in Peace.