Unfiltered Story #326515

I am the author of this story about my grandfather https://notalwaysright.com/paying-for-real-estate-will-follow-us-into-death/178670/

My grandfather loved his beer. A nice, cold, Budweiser was all he needed. Whether at home, at a bar, or at a fancy restaurant, he always ordered a Bud. When he was finished with his glass, bottle, or can, he would always place his drink holder on its side to signal to the server he was finished and they should ask him if he wanted another. Some of us disliked this practice, as sometimes the leftover droplets of beer would spill onto the table, and we also thought he should just ask for a beer if he wanted one. But he was the patriarch, stuck in his ways, and we rarely, if ever, brought up our frustration.

After his passing, at his wake, my family was passing by his open casket, praying and/or just being silent in our thoughts. Right before the doors opened for well-wishers, I saw my mother go back to his casket and put something on the edge. Curious, I followed and came across…an empty Bud can laying on its side. I asked my mom about it, trying not to laugh out loud and attract too much attention. She responded,

Mom: “It’s an empty beer can on its side. It’s done. So is he.”

I thought it was the perfect metaphor, and it will remain in my memory bank. My dad thought his siblings may not like it, but everyone who saw it laughed and said it was perfect and “so Grampa/Dad/Paul”.