my grandma passed away on saturday night. she was 86 i think and she had lived a very full life filled with laughter, joy and her share of tears. today my family is in massachusetts celebrating her life and saying their goodbyes. i couldn't be there for the ceremonies and that feels a bit strange. i know she's not wishing i was there and she knew how much i loved her, but not being there leaves the emotions kind of without a venue for being released.
my grandma was an amazing woman. when i was a little girl, every year for my birthday she would give me $25 but the catch was that i had to go to the shopping mall and spend it with her. this made for some very memorable trips. i can remember running a red light and her looking in the rear view mirror realizing that the guy behind her had run it as well and her saying, "well, if i get pulled over i'll just say i was just following the guy behind me!" we had a lot of fun people watching at whatever mall or shops we decided to venture out to and we always made lunch a part of the date. we shared a sundae at friendlies and always filled the day with lots of laughs. i will treasure those memories forever.
when my mom called the other night to say that they had made it to massachusetts and had seen grandma, she told me that she had observed a very poignant moment between my grandma and my grandpa. my grandpa has never stepped foot in a church service for as long as i've known him and although my grandma dutifully went every sunday, he insisted that he found god in the outdoors and went shooting while she was at the service. as my grandma began the process of dying, she said to my grandpa, "i just have to know if you believe, because if i'm gonna go i want to know that you'll be there." they've been married for like 63 years and i'm sure the thought of being without one another has been the hardest part of all of this for them. my grandpa held her hand tightly and said, "you go and i'll follow you."
so, you go grandma and we'll all follow you. i'll miss you while i'm still here but one day we'll be together again, maybe people watching in heaven.
i love you!
1 comments:
Oh Sue...my heart is sad for your loss and I wish we could be there with you. I lost my grandmother in college, and we were close, and it was hard. The night Don and I got married...I was sad that she had never met him. That night I had a dream or vision or something where they were there with Don and I and it was the most wonderful time. My heart is still sure it was 'real' in some way and a gift to God from me. I pray that today and through the grieving process God gives you some 'real' dreams that sooth your heart and make you smile. Much Love!
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