PoD

A couple of years ago, I went to the bank with some treasury notes my grandfather had gotten for me when I was a child. They had the phrase "PoD" written on them. I thought it knew what it meant, but wanted to be sure. The bank teller confirmed my suspicion - Payable on Death... I always joked with my grandfather that I better never be able to cash them.

On March 10, 2010, those treasury notes became cashable.

My grandfather was a son of Greek immigrants, raised a Jew in New York before leaving his religion behind and joining the Army. He received a Silver Star and a Purple Heart for some of the crazy missions he flew as a B17 navigator, before moving into industry and retiring to Texas. He outlived two wives, but even to the end, he maintained a passion that I always admired. He was a tough man who didn't have a social filter -- if he thought you were overweight, he'd tell you, if he thought you were a slacker, he'd tell you. Perhaps that's why I got along so well with him.

And though he didn't admit love easily until the end of his life, he was one of those people who always took care of family no matter what. I wish all of you this sort of uncompromising loyalty -- perhaps a rose with a few less thorns... it's one of those things that's nearly impossible to comprehend until it's no longer there.