Earlier this evening I got an email from my mom letting me know that her mom was starting to take a turn for the worse. The gist of it said that her nurses said her heart was slowing down and her digestive system was phasing out. I should be prepared to lose my grandma within a few days.
Five hours later came the text message from my brother (mom is staying at his house before the funeral) letting me know that Grandma G had just passed.
This news hit me very differently than the phone call last Sunday. This was completely expected. Grandma G has been in so much pain recently, and I know she is no longer in pain. I am so happy for grandma, she is free from the cancer and other illnesses that have been afflicting her. She can see again, and move around so much easier. At the same time I am so sad for my grandpa who just had to say goodbye to his wife. I know that he has been so worried about her and that it was really hard for him to see her in so much pain. I don't know how this will affect his health. I know sometimes spouses don't last that much longer, but other times their health improves because they now are not constantly worrying about the other.
I honestly haven't had a lot of time to process this one. I literally got the text message 20 minutes ago. Already though my thoughts have turned to the game Hand and Foot. I can't count on my fingers and toes the number of times I played that game with my grandma. Or the number of times that I so badly cheated at that game so that I wouldn't lose by thousands of points-I don't know if grandma ever caught on to me cheating.
I remember that they always had a little bowl of candies and a bowl of nuts. Most of the time when i was around there were just nuts because my brother was quick to eat their chocolates.
I remember that grandma (for a long time) made birthday cards for us. On my 14th birthday my card said "so you're 16!" I got excited, hoping that my parents would let me start driving and dating... but they didn't get confused like grandma! Pretty sure she sent the card meant for a cousin who is just older than me. I know I kept that card, but I think it's in a box at my parents house.
A favorite Grandma memory is her quilting. Grandma was an amazing quilter. She made a quilt for each of her grandkids when they got married. I remember seeing my siblings get their quilts when I was little, but it got more real for me when I was 12ish. I think it was Janyse getting married, and as she was looking at fabric stores to pick out the fabric she wanted for her Grandma quilt, I found one that I liked. A hunter green 8 point star print. This was during my green phase. At this point, Grandma's vision was starting to fade a little (due to macular degeneration) so we got the fabric I wanted and when she had time she made my quilt as well. I remember it sitting in my closet for years, not being able to touch it til I got married. Tonight as I type this post from my bed, I think of the hours and love that Grandma put into my quilt. I am so grateful I have it as a frequent reminder of her.
I don't have any pictures of us together on my computer, I may have one somewhere else, but I'll need to do some hunting. So here is a picture of her when she was younger that my mom just shared.
Grandma, I love you and will miss you.
4 comments:
Marci, what a difficult week for you! In 1989 we lost my FIL and my grandpa within three weeks of each other. It was a difficult time. You are in my prayers.
Sandy
Marci, what a difficult time - to lose both grandmas in one week! You have wonderful insight though into both fond memories as well as the eternal perspective. My heart and prayers go out to you and the entire family.
I love that you have such positive and beautiful memories of your grandmothers. And I think that if you were a brunette you'd look so much like this grandmother. Beautiful.
That is rough! I can't imagine losing two close relatives in less than a week. I'm glad you have some peace though. Prayers for your whole family.
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