Hoddy Nakamura - Site Memorial Online

I shall not make judgment to the existence of hell or heaven; my life is far too short to argue such matters.  It is impossible however to repudiate the greatness of my grandfather’s being and contribution to my life on Earth.

I always wondered to myself why people always called my grandpa “Hoddy.”  Only after my sixth birthday did I learn that my grandparents also had names.  Hoddy constitutes a inimitable name to be sure, though through my eyes, my grandpa is my Grandpa and by that name I will never forget him.

I remember as a child I used to say:

-“Grandpa, take me to beach.” (That means NOW)

-“Grandpa, drive me to Toys R Us.” (There’s a toy I’ve been looking at that my parents won’t get for me)

-“Grandpa, I wanna eat at McDonalds.” (My mother starves me as you can plainly tell)

-“Grandpa, can we build a time machine?” (Lots of blinking lights to make the security people at the airport go crazy)

-“Grandpa, can you tell me how computers work?” (So I can take apart my dad’s while he isn’t looking)

Oh what an annoying child I must once have been!  And if only I remembered to say PLEASE.  Nevertheless I know it wouldn’t have mattered to Grandpa.  Not to Grandpa.  In every action he ever did for me Grandpa carried it out not merely to please me (it did that too), but to prove a point: that his love for me was undying and could never ever be broken.  Blinking LED lights fade with time, toys grow boring and get tossed away, and that cheeseburger has long since left me.  Conversely the memory lasts forever.  And within that memory is encapsulated all the love and tenderness of a life, handed to me unconditionally.

Hitherto I never thought much about Grandpa being a young teenager as myself.  Through my eyes Grandpa was timeless, never younger or older than he had ever been.  Only now do I realize how little I knew about him and his life on Earth.  Yet in spite of all that I may not know I can concede to the facts I do know:  That Grandpa loved me, he cared for me, and he expressed unequivocal kindness in a way unique to only him.  Such contribution to the world and to my life can never attain measurement.  My grandfather’s greatness is one that proves futile and vain to express in words.  Instead I must see it with my eyes, hear it through my ears, touch it with my heart, and hold dearly with my hands.  Not for too long...  Only forever

I Have one more thing I need to put in I remember about a week ago when we visited him, he wanted to go to Japanese town. I didn't want to and people who know me know I'm very very very stubborn, and I fought him all the way. Yet I know he had cherished it, and I feel bad. I never knew that day in Japanese town would be the last time I would hold his hand the last time I would walk by his side. I was completely blind, on the events that were to take place. I can't believe I wont ever see him again, I cant believe I had the nerve to pitch a fit infront of my poor grandfather that was about to die in a week after. I hope that one day in heaven, perhaps, I will be able to walk by his side and hold his hand again. I never knew when he dropped us off at the airport and said, "I'm gonna miss you Kiki." That he meant it... forever.

 I loved my Grandpa very much, I'm not a person who can't easily say that to someone especially in my family. I do love my family though. Now I relized that I never said that to him, so I hope he can read this from heaven. I'm positive he's in heaven, because he would never ever hurt a fly, he would help anyone who was in need even when i blew him off. I remember he loved my poems, i wrote one to him the day he died, but he'll never get it.
    Dear Grandpa,
I know you are watching down on me from heaven. I hope you know that I love you so much. I don't know why God had to take you, I cant figure that out yet. I'm sure in heaven, there's no cockroaches so you don't have to get me those cockroach shoes we saw in that store. I hope you like my poem:
                         There is Fish to catch in heaven
                         My sister's not there to make anymore knots
                         So you can fish care free without a thought.

                         Life is full of heart breaks
                         I understand that now
                         I hope your not in any pain up there
                         Or heart breaks any how.

                         Although these times are hard
                         I promise we'll get through
                         I swear to God thats true.

                         Love, Kiki