It had to happen one day.

He was fifty-four. His brown hair had become increasing salt and peppered. The glasses he had once worn as affectation he needed in earnest now. His blue eyes were rimmed in red. His fingertips rested on the bridge of his nose. No, not a migraine this time...he was just so tired. He sat at the large Steinway in the large music room. After retirement, they had explored the world of classical music together and still played several rounds of golf together. The top of the grand piano was covered with photographs of children, wives, cousins, grandchildren and even great grandchildren…Of friends too soon departed...of family triumphs and small family disasters…and along the walls here and there were special display cases with strange looking insects and beautiful butterflies. Three cases in particular drew his attention.

He smiled at the first. It was the first new species of scarab beetle discovered in a half century; that summer he had spent in Egypt. I was there the day after it happened. It was like Christmas. He knew it had been one of his secret desires to discover a new species of insect and he had discovered three. That was one of many secret desires they had shared. He had found the small but beautiful blue and purple-hued butterflyin a remote jungle on Papua-New Guinea had been named for his wife and was affectionately known as the Lady Sara; I was a sophomore. The third was a species of dung beetle that had been discovered in Africa, that first summer after he finished college. They had found it together...He was so proud.

He hadn't made too many expeditions after that he was getting on in years then. But he had lived to see the birth of his great grand children…So many years so many accomplishments.

A frail but slender hand fell on his shoulder. He looked up and saw her, Sara gray haired brown eyed Sara…old…but still tall, slim and straight. "You knew it had to happen one day…" Sara kissed him on the forehead. "It was so strange that incident so long ago which nearly killed him…so changed his life…but we came together…then there was you and your brothers and Grace…all your husbands and wives, your children, their children …"

"You know he thought he would die a lonely old man…but look 4 fine sons, a fine daughter, 30 grandchildren and now 3 great grandchildren, triplets again. He thought he was the last…"

"Do you miss him Mom…?"

"Every minute of my life…Aaron the service will start soon…Come on my little bugman." She always gasped inwardly when he turned and smiled; for that one moment in time she was transported back in time to a night long ago when he had asked and she had said yes. So many memories since then. "Come on Aaron…it's time."

Mother and son walked out of the large mansion into the large expanse of gardens to the butterfly garden, which was chosen as his final resting place. Sara smiled and thought 'Gil you thought you would die alone. Just look…there will be Grissoms on this earth for a long time to come. And soon I will join you…'

R.I.P

Dr. Gilbert Aaron Grissom

Most Beloved Husband

Father, Grandfather

and Great Grandfather

1956 -- 2060

Finis