Don’t worry…I’m still here. These last few weeks haven’t given me much time to write. My grandmother had a stroke two weeks ago and passed away a little over a week ago. Then this past week I caught a nasty cold, which caused the blog to continue stay on the back burner. I’m hoping to get back in the swing of things this week.
Most of you have been fortunate enough to have met my grandmother, a.k.a. Gramoo. She lived in San Jose most of her life and recently moved up to Portland to be closer to my cousins and her great grand kids. Even though she was 87 I was still completely shocked when I heard she had a stroke. She has not had any major health problems and I expected her to live for another 5 to 10 years. Had I been more prepared for her passing I think would have lessened the sadness and made it easier to believe that she is gone.
I am very thankful that she did not have to be put into a home. I do not wish that upon any of my family or friends. I’m also thankful she got to spend her last 7 months of her life in Oregon close to family.
Over President’s weekend I flew up to Portland. We had a service for her on Sunday, which was really nice. My cousin Jodi works in grief counseling and had some really great ideas, which made the service really personal. She and my sister worked on a poem that consisted of certain things that reminded us of my grandma. Like wearing moon boots, and thermals all year long, and Wheel of fortune slot machines. My mom played two songs on her flute, which were beautiful, and Jodi’s daughter heather sang a song. She sounded great despite the fact that she had a cold.
Amy and Jodi had also planned for everyone to come to the front and take a small jar of sand and while pouring it into a larger jar share a memory of my grandma. It was really great to hear everyone’s personal memories. At the end of the service we bottled up the sand and each person got to take home a small jar of it.
Here is a collage my second cousin Ashley did. It was great.
Amy and Jodi asked me to create the programs for the service and I was really glad I was able to. Click on the images to enlarge them.
It was really great to spend the weekend with my family. I always have fun with them. I’m planning on proposing an idea that we all try to get together once a year. One year we can meet in California and the other we can meet in Oregon.
I had no loose ends with my grandma, and there was nothing I wanted to tell her that she didn’t already know. I am upset that she died, but I’m more upset at death it’s self. I can’t imagine having to go through this pain and sadness for every one of my family and friends. It was so hard to see how sad everyone else was. I wasn’t prepared for that.
It really is true that you don’t realize how much you miss someone until they are gone. Gramoo is the first person I’ve had a close relationship with that has died. We talked often on the phone and emailed each other. She pursued the relationship more than I did, and I am very thankful for that. It’s really saddening to know that I will never get to hug her or hear her voice again.
2 comments:
I remember when those babes in the bridesmaid dresses were little top waders at Toddy Thomas. They look the same.
Nice comments about my mom's service. I have nothing to add. It is still hard to believe that she is gone.
Your blogs usually make me laugh out loud 'til I cry...literally! This one made me reminisce, as I clearly remember Gramoo and your close relationship with her when we were kids, and I am teary eyed for a different reason after reading this entry.
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