This blog has sort of been about him.
He was one of the most real persons in every way you can imagine, he was only 97. Even if I tried to catch some of his personality and spirits, he of course was so much more, his attitude in life in general was for us something unique and totally special. No matter how the situation was he always seemed to be totally stabile, you could trust how he was and still he sometimes surprised us. He certainly was a different generation.
He also had a peculiar way of looking at life and even if he had an accident and had to go to the hospital and later a carecenter, he would request clean shirts, shaving equipment and a comb, because he always wanted to be presentable and decent, no matter if he was 96 or 97 years young or where he was. To have the spirit to try to fight for decency at a Norwegian carecenter is something worth a lot of respect, and I hope you never have to witness it. Decency is not a word we proudly can use when it comes to how we take care of our elderly.
If he ever had a friend like Big Gunnar I do not know, but I sort of hope he did, and to try to describe all the things, small and big, regarding him, would be absolutely impossible, but we are nevertheless for ever thankful for it all, and foremost for the teachings regarding how to handle life, and of course of the common decency.
It will be a little less of everything now that he is gone, but he is impossible to forget. The footprint he left is there for ever. Same as with our other grandparents, of which he was the last. Same with all grandparents in one way or the other.
I wish all grandparents would have had a blog, so their spirits and stories could be with us, to teach us, and maybe guide us when we are a little lost.
Thank you for having read F.W.G
Take care of your grandparents please, because the Norwegian welfare system for our elders is a totale disgrace even if the people working there are fantastic and doing their best.
Best wishes to you all.
I am sad to see our dear Old Man leave, but happy that he was able to pass on with the dignity he deserved. I wish we could all spend more time with our grandparents and elderly people in general. They need our love, attention and respect. Safe journey, F.W.G.W.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry FWG has passed. It has been a pleasure to spend moments with him. My own grandparents passed long ago. Once after a bad dream my grandmother told me that I would never be alone as long as she was alive. She is alive in my heart and I am never alone.
ReplyDeleteWith sadness I hear about the death of sir Gilbert Wicklund, "Old Man Gilbert". He was a remarkable man, not only because at his old age he made a blog, but especially because of the originality of that blog. My very sincere condolences to his family.
ReplyDeleteFrans Wollebrants, Flanders (Belgium).
I am so sorry to hear of your grandfather's passing. I loved his gift with words and his attitude towards life. He reminded me so much of my beloved grandmother, who went to be with her Lord in 2008. Your grandfather's blog was the only one I have ever found worth subscribing to; he will certainly be missed. Peace to your whole family as you celebrate his life and mourn his passing.
ReplyDeleteTeresa Anderson, Illinois, USA
I'm new to FWG's blog, and sorry I wasn't able to tell him personally what a delightful writer (and surely therefore person) he was. The tidbits of wisdom done with heart-warming humor are things everyone should be so lucky to read. I offer my sincere condolences to you and your fellow-grandchildren. You must be wonderful people too or he would not have written about you so wonderfully. I wish Norway success in improving its treatment of the elderly. (Though I don't know if we in the USA are any better at it.)
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your loss! He was absolutely an extraordinary person to start such a great blog at his age, sharing his wisdom and wonderings. You are extremely lucky to have had such a great grandfather who lived so long and stayed so alert till the end. Peace to all the family.
ReplyDeleteThis saddens me, but I had suspected something like this because of the lack of updates. My condolences to you.
ReplyDeleteTo Old Man Gilbert: catch you on the flip side.
R.I.P. old man Gilbert <3
ReplyDeleteAt least ,people around the world knew this funny pops ,and read his words .I am from China mainland.
ReplyDeleteFor what its worth, i have never been a follower of blogs but I decided to follow Finn Willy Gilbert long long ago and as I only ever did follow 1 blog, I see this post every day as I log into my blog, and I send him a smile. May he rest peacefully.
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