We miss you already Grandpa Martin

Ken Johnston

It seemed like it happened so quickly...
On Sunday morning my Grandpa Martin Grinstead passed away.
Just last week he walked over from the RR Long Term Care facility to my parents’ house. He was sharp and spry and indulged in a piece of cherry pie... one of his favourites.
Then he came down with pneumonia late in the week. Saturday the doctor was hopeful that the antibiotics they were giving him would work and he would rebound. But sadly, he did not.
Grandpa has disappeared from this world... a trick that only one magician could achieve... God.
Grandpa loved magic. He was a magician for several decades and even taught me a few tricks when I was very young... of course I was sworn to secrecy.
Several years ago he stopped doing magic when
Parkinson’s Disease affected his slight of hand, making the hand a bit slower than the eye. However, he still loved to reminisce about his

magic with me and on more than one occasion
laughed about the shows he did for us as kids (He would drive to Rainy River from Thunder Bay for our birthday parties).
When he could not do the magic anymore he gave me two of his “magic handkerchiefs” for my dogs to wear as bandannas. Every time I put them on them I think of Grandpa and his magical love he had for all his grandchildren.
The last time I saw him he was working on a trick that he thought he could achieve with my help. I was at the hospital and he asked me if I could help him escape. Unfortunately I did not help him.
He loved to entertain us all and I am sure he is back in his glory in heaven doing tricks, singing and laughing with old friends. I am sure that if he could he would wave his magic wand and make our sorrow disappear.
Thanks for the memories grandpa. We miss u already!
–Until then, your assistant, Ken