PixlBit

When you load a video game and arrive at the title screen or main menu, chances are, a tune will start playing. In some menus there's no music, in others there may be ambient noise providing atmosphere, and sometimes there's a short song full of melody and maybe even lyrics. Occasionally a game will have an unforgettable theme that will trigger memories of my experiences in the game, memories of what life was like around the time I played through the game, and even become synonymous with the game itself. It's fascinating to me how a song playing at the menu screen of a game can come to be a defining characteristic of the experience, and such a prominent part of your memory generation, every bit as powerful as the gameplay and characters themselves within the game.

I've been pretty under the radar the last few weeks, so it's time to put the periscope up, do some recon to find out what my friends are up to, and send out an update transmission. Last week we had my grandpa's funeral and it went really well. The honor guard turned out to give him a gun-salute as well as give the folded American flag to my grandmother. After the funeral we started a bathroom renovation at our house so everything has been messy. However, my Xbox has still been getting some love despite the distractions.

My Grandfather on my Mother's side of the family died this morning at 4am. He spent this week in the hospital and we have all been by his side as often as possible, day and night. The medical staff worked hard to prolong his life and have made him and us as comfortable as possible. Eventually he began failing critically, there was nothing left to do. He has been suffering the last several years with any number of illnesses including emphysema. He was a lifelong smoker and had recently quit a few years ago, but it was too late. I use to smoke cigarettes as well, it was a habit all my friends and I picked up in high school. I quit smoking two years ago because of the pain I saw it causing my Grandpa, and one by one I've been inspiring my friends and cousins to quit smoking. Anyways, Grandpa was moved to the hospice wing in a much bigger and more comfortable room where he could have his whole family with him till the end. He was unresponsive and unable to breath on his own so his respiration was aided and he lasted a few days before he peacefully died this morning and his bodily systems shut down for good.

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