I am healing from the loss of my Grandmother. I am working with clients again and getting things accomplished and my house is well as cleaned up as any regular day. (which by way is still cluttered).
I miss her, I find myself with time that I was spending with her that I don't know what to do with. Extra time on my hands? Who has that?
This photo of her was taken just two weeks before she moved on from this life. She was very sick and tired, but I still see the love she had for me in her eyes. I have this photo framed on on my desk.
She is still with me, she'll always be with me.
Last Friday I left work early and went home to watch the last ever episode of Guiding Light. It was my Grandmother who got me hooked on the lives of those characters. Every afternoon when I was little I got put into my PAPA's recliner and my Grandmother took the sofa and she'd tell me to be quiet and let her watch her "stories". Well she would promptly go to sleep and I would watch Guiding Light. So as a tribute to my Grandmother I went home and watched the last ever episode.
My Grandmother was a delight. She loved animals so much and growing up down the street from her house with no pets of my own I loved that I stayed with her before I started school and after school until I was a young teenager. There were dogs, cats, a monkey, turtles, birds, squirrels, & fish. She's been known to go out to eat with a squirrel in her pocket book.
She started giving me coffee *it was mostly milk, when I was a toddler. Of course my mother said I couldn't have it and of course my Grandmother gave it to me anyway. We just kept it a secret. Now the smell of coffee is like a visit from my Grandmtoher.
Her house was always an adventure. There were great climbing trees, caves my Uncle dug in the banks of the property, lots of fruit trees, flowers, and always a huge garden. She let me iron when the iron weighed as much as me. I got to cut grass with one of those push turn blade lawn mowers.... you know with no motor. There were always go carts we could ride. We called her first yard the "ball field" and played softball, baseball and kick ball. Her house was always full of family. With 2 uncles and 3 aunts and 11 cousins I had plenty of others to play.
I am Thankful for the wonderful times I spent with her. I'm grateful she taught me how to make biscuits, fig preserves and the best mac and cheese on the planet. I'm most thankful for the love. When I would get into trouble with my mom and dad I would always run to her and find comfort.
I finally had my break down moment the other day. I had a little box of things that I had given to her that are now mine again. I was going through the box and deciding what to do with it all. I didn't feel she would want to pock it in the back of the closet and leave it. There's a statue of a cat. I'll give it to someone I want to have it. There's a nightgown and robe. I've been using those. And down in the bottom of the box was something I hadn't seen in years and years. Frankly I'd forgotten about it. I'd given it to her about 30 years ago. It was a silver mirror, comb and brush set. I still haven't decided what I'm going to do with those. You see, when I picked up the brush there are my Grandmother's hairs still in it and I can't pull them out. Maybe some day I will, but right now I can't.
My very favorite moment I cherish with my Grandmother was when I had a broken foot in 1984. I went to the Dr. and thought I was going to get my cast off. X-Ray, not healed and he wrapped more plaster on my cast. Well my daddy had said I could not go with my boyfriend to Florida on vacation if I still had my cast on my foot. So I drove my Grandmother's house and explained that she "HAD TO HELP" me get off my foot. And did you know that if you soak a plaster cast in the tub for an hour you can cut it right off with tin snips? Well now you know. I got engaged on that trip to Florida and 4 years later had my beautiful daughter Abigail. So thanks again Grandmother. I love you.
I'm so thankful for the 44 years I had with my Grandmother.
My message to you is to spend time with family. Make time. And always tell them that you love them. Of course they may already know, but you need to always say it. And if you live far away from friends and family pick up the phone often.
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