The Centenarian

A touching story of a young football player and his great-great-grandfather. Despite their generational differences, they share a deep bond and create an adventure that will make you smile and think.

June 7, 2097

Some called the old man adventurous. Others called him entertaining. I called him "Grandpa." He is my Great-Great Grandfather, to be exact. My Grandfather's, Grandfather. My Grandfather's, Mother's, Father to be exact. And boy, what a life he has lived. 

My passion has always been football, and I knew no matter where I played or who I played, Grandpa would be there. For he, too, once had such a strong passion for the game. "Back before the Robots and CRISPR messed everything up." As he would say. Had it not been for CRISPR, tho, I doubt I would be the size I am... Grandpa was only 5'9 and at most 175LBS in his prime. Now I haven't seen him stand straight or freely unassisted by a walker or some type of robot in eight years. 

What is most sad is we have the money and the technology to heal his legs, specifically, his left knee that he destroyed in 2017 during his tenure with a branch of the military once known as the Marines.

My grandpa hates robots and the advancement of all this technology. I personally am very thankful because had it not been for CRISPR, I know I would never have broken Seven Feet, maybe even Six... Who knows. 

Lately, Grandpa's body has grown so weak. that he rolls himself around in a gold-painted wheelchair. It pains me to see him in the damn thing, but he doesn't mind it. He says it gives people the opportunity to focus on his "muscular arms."

Everyone says Grandpa hasn't been the same since my great-great grandma died in 2086. Yet he seems like the same "happy-go-lucky" guy I have always interacted with. He calls my great-great grandma "The Saint" or references her as "My Angel." She is his favorite topic of conversation, right above football and travel. 

I can tell he misses her, especially today. For today is the eve of his hundredth birthday. I call myself fortunate because I share a birthdate with him. I'm just a "taller, stronger, younger, uglier version of him," is what he likes to say. 

A year ago, when his favorite NFL team drafted me. He used that line on everyone he met. His excitement and smile were so contagious at the draft that he became a bit of a celebrity himself. Everyone was talking about the witty old grandpa bringing joy to the draft. I was glad to hear his laughter again. He had stopped talking to me altogether during my two years of college because I decided against my family's wishes to take my talents and continue my education at UCLA.

I swear I saw him once in the stands during one of the four games I played against USC...

When I graduated, Grandpa showed up to the Rose Bowl, where my ceremony was held in a USC scarlet red blazer, a USC jersey underneath, and a smile the size of California. His jersey had the number 13 on it. The same number that Bruins Fans have grown to love, thanks to yours truly. Grandpa shook my hand firmly when the ceremony was over and told me he was very proud of me for choosing my own path, finishing school, and doing what I love. I could sense his resentment and disgust for all the "Bruin Blue" around, but for the moment we conversed, he put his rival differences aside. 

At the commencement party my parents hosted for me, Grandpa gained a lot of "Liquid Courage" and started bashing all of my fellow graduates. He then ranted to anyone who'd listen how Robots and Technology ruined the game he loves so much. He preached to my teammates in an angry tangent how playing 32 games in one season in the span of one year takes away from the excitement, appreciation, and beauty of the game. He then shouted a history lesson for all to hear, reminding the "Younger Generations" that college used to be four years, and a season was at most 15 games and not year-round.

Grandpa was so inebriated he started betting people that he could throw a football farther than anyone at the party from his wheelchair... My parents had me send a mass message to every guest to disregard his drunken words and actions. I apologized to everyone and lied to them that he was suffering from Alzheimer's and Dementia...

The night ended with Grandpa singing an old song over and over again, slumped drunkenly in his wheelchair until he fell asleep...

                                                                                  * * *

When the draft came around, my grandpa's charisma truly showed. I know he enjoyed himself and all the media attention, and that is what makes me happy. 

In the last year since I graduated.  Grandpa and I have grown very close. I truly believe that of all the people in this massive universe, I am the one who now knows him best. 

At 99, Grandpa is still very much an independent man. He has never asked me for anything, unlike everyone else in my life. But today, for the very first time, he asked a favor of me. 

I was surprised to see my grandpa, my season had just finished, and in all honesty, I was hoping to spend my birthday in Dubai. Today to my surprise, at Six AM, my home notified me my grandpa is here at my front door. He was in his golden wheelchair, wearing a nice, loosely fitted black tuxedo. At first, I was concerned when I saw him on camera, but his warm smile sparked an excitement in me to see him, and I felt at ease. My first thought was maybe he could come with me to Dubai, and I could show him how pro football players celebrate. 

As I opened the door, Grandpa just smiled and asked me if I'd do a small favor for him. "It depends on what the favor is, Gramps." 

"It's nothing crazy," he exclaimed. " I just need you to drive me in my Lincoln down to the Oceanside Pier and spend the day with me until seven minutes into the day tomorrow." "What do you mean seven minutes into the day tomorrow?" I asked. " Like till 12:07 AM, June 8, 2097!" He said joyfully. " I don't know, Grandpa... I am supposed to be on my way to Dubai today to celebrate our birthday. Why don't you come with me?" With much frustration in his voice, he emphasized, "I DON'T WANT TO GO TO DUBAI! It's filled with SAND AND ROBOTS! Besides, all the real fun in the Middle East is in Bahrain... I want to celebrate my hundredth birthday with you grandson. Drinking some cold ones and enjoying the day. Come on; this is the first time I've asked for anything in 76 years."

"Alright, Grandpa, only because I know this is something important to you. Let me make some quick calls to the Dubai crew to let them know not to expect me and let me get ready. I'll be quick. I promise."

"Alrighty, Grandson! Take your time! I'll be right here." 

Since Grandpa was in a tux, I figured I would wear one too. My buddies were disappointed that I would not attend their planned festivities, but oh well...I thought I know could always go to Dubai next year or even the year after... Grandpa waited patiently at the front door. I could sense his excitement for my return so we could depart on our grand adventure. 

                                                           .  .  .

Grandpas Lincoln was 134 years old. He loved the history behind his "Beautiful Automobile." When they outlawed gasoline, Grandpa had an electric kit installed in it but kept the interior all original. Most people nowadays don't drive on the ground, So grandpa loves when he drives his "Raider Black Continental" with all the eyes that gaze down upon him. I personally have never driven his "Beautiful Automobile" until now...

The top was down, and he just smiled and giggle while I struggled to figure out how to maintain a smooth and steady speed. He sang so joyfully. "Woah, Tie a yellow ribbon round the ole' oak tree." 

He directed me to a local mart, and once inside, we bought a 12-pack of Bud Light, a six-pack of Pacifico, a three-pack of Pilsner-Urquell, and a silver bottle of Cazadores Tequilla. 

We arrived at the Oceanside Pier around 10 AM. For some reason, the Oceans scent was very strong today, and the sky was the clearest I had ever seen. The Pier is massive and old, with newer reinforcements assisting it. Still, you can't help but marvel at the beauty of the long brown wood-based Pier that trailed far into the ocean. The Pier that my Grandpa loves so much today looks as if God himself placed it here to accent the beautiful scenery around it. Grandpa once told me he loves Piers so much because his first date with my Great-Great Grandma was on one. He told me years ago that he loves this one the most tho, because during his tenure in the Marines, this pier was the one closest to where he was stationed, and he knew whenever he had good days or bad days, he could always count on this pier to be standing to help him reflect and think through all his blessings and all his problems.

 

When we arrived at the end of the pier, Grandpa slowly sipped, smiled, and watched all the people, boats, and animals around.

I could tell he was happy. I was genuinely happy for him, but aside from having a slight buzz, I was bored out of my mind. I asked him why he wanted to come here today of all days. He just smiled at me and said, "To be at peace." 

                                                                              *  *   *

As the sun began to descend, the real beauty of where we were started to really settle in me. Even more impressive than the initial beauty of this marvelous pier in the day is the beautiful light post that has stood tall with this pier since its birth, lighting the pier with its perfect circular bubble gum machine-looking bulbs, almost in perfect synch with the sunset to keep "God's light" on his wonderous pier. 

As the sun was descending, Grandpa took a photo of this magical moment on his dinosaur of a device called a cell phone. 

He then just sat and listened... we both just sat and listened...

As the night got darker and the stars and moon became brighter, more people began to leave. The more people left, the more the smile on my grandpa's face began to fade. The next thing I knew, it was significantly cold, and Grandpa and I were all alone. 

Around 11:55 PM, Grandpa started singing, "Sitting in the morning sun, I'll be sitting till the evening comes, yeah, watching the ships roll in, and then I'll watch them roll away again, yeah, I'm sitting on the dock of the bay, watching the tide roll away, ooh, yeah, I'm sitting on the dock of the bay wasting time..."

I couldn't help but smile; we were on a pier, not a dock; either way, I just enjoyed hearing my grandpa sing his song as if he had an audience before him. Honestly, he wasn't that bad... 

At midnight on the day of our birthday, I think the alcohol finally hit him. 

"Happy Birthday, Grandson!" He shouted. "Happy Birthday, Grandpa!" I shouted back. 

"I have lived a great life, grandson, in my hundred years on this earth. I've seen dictators rise and dictators die. I've seen countries rise from nothing and mighty ancient empires crumble because they rotted from within. I've seen actors become leaders, and leaders become actors. I've lived to see new generations rise and old great ones lose to time. 

I remember when a cell phone was just a mobile telephone. I remember when all cars were on the ground. I remember the world without such easy access to knowledge and information. I remember when my country was rallied together as one to fight for what we believed in, and I remember when my country tore itself apart internally over what people believed in. I witnessed the world change for better and for worse... 

I served my country honorably and dishonorably. I've preached to people never to lie, cheat, or steal, yet my greatest adventures in this world came from doing all three. 

I've lied... to my enemy. 

I've cheated... death more times than I can count, 

And I've stolen... I stole one woman's heart, and I safeguarded it with every ounce of strength in Me. 

In the best of times, I have embraced life, and in the worst of times... I have embraced life. 

I have embraced life comfortably, uncomfortably, Hopeful, and Hopeless. 

So now, on my hundredth birthday, in my best tux, with the flak the corps gave me in 14'. I am finally ready. For my birthday breakfast, I will finally be back with my saint.

 

I smile at you death as I smiled in life. I welcome you death as I have welcomed life."

As Grandpa finished his sentence, he hurdled himself over his beautiful pier and into the ocean... It was 12:07 AM... I jumped in after him, but it was too late. The weight of his concrete Flak Jacket plunged him down so fast, so far, that no one ever saw the old man again... 

                                                                                *  *  *

At his memorial service, I truly didn't know how to feel. My heart ached not because I lost my Great-Great Grandfather but because I truly felt like I had lost my best friend. 

People from all over the world of all ages came to pay their respects to the old man. It was honestly a very humbling experience. 

I noticed on my grandpa's death certificate it said his date of birth was June 8, 1997. And the time of birth was 12:07 AM... I couldn't help but smile and cry when I saw this. 

At the private reading of his last will and testament, the old man left everything but two things to his favorite football team. The two things he didn't leave to them, he left to me. 

He left me his "Raider Black"-1963 Lincoln Continental and a notebook filled with pictures and stories of his life specifically for me. In this precious notebook were ticket stubs to all 64 of my regular season games at UCLA and all eight of the postseason-playoff games I played in. At the very end of this notebook were 72 total "selfie" photos of my grandpa wearing a USC-Scarlett Red hat with UCLA #13 on the front in his beloved USC-Scarlett Red.

Grandpa, Really... Never missed a game...