Thursday, January 25, 2007

Remembering a Life

I first posted this last year. Just wanted to repost in honor.
Happy Birthday, Grandma.

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She was born into a farming family – the 13th of 15 siblings. Three brothers had died – two in infancy and one, a half brother, at the age of 35 – before she was even born. The rest grew into modest lives and professions: Dressmakers, farmers, postal workers, homemakers.

The tiny, cute redheaded girl grew into a petite, lovely blazen haired woman.

She worked briefly in a sweets shop. She and her girlfriend at work would snitch chocolates when they could, and throw the wadded wrappers behind a display. They laughed about their boss one day moving the display and having a conniption over all the wrappers he’d find.

She fell in love with a younger man. He was tall and handsome and very personable. She was 20, he was 19. There was never anyone else after they met. They married and had a son. He made a good living as a civil servant mechanic at the local air force base.

She found complete fulfillment in caring for family and home. Their boy grew up, married, and had 2 children of his own. She lived for the time she could spend with them. They lived in another city but remained close. She pen palled with her granddaughter all through childhood, adolescence, and into adulthood.

When her husband died she moved to a retirement village. She missed her sweetheart each day as much as the first without him, but she stayed socially active and had many friends. She remained a sparkle on the water. She loved sharing - and pulling - a good joke, and enhanced any situation where she was present, though too humble to accept acknowledgment of it. She danced a jazzy number at her grandson’s wedding, and quite well, until the attention she drew embarrassed her and she sat down.

She had a physical therapy session one March morning. It went well, and she was in good spirits - sharing her sweet sense of humor with the therapists as they worked. She returned to her room and an hour later, passed away peacefully. The world has been a duller place ever since.

Today is my Grandmother’s 97th birthday – Happy Birthday, Grandma. I miss you.

12 comments:

Unknown said...

This is just beautiful!!!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful grandma! She's still with you too. Hugs!

Saur♥Kraut said...

This post reminded me of one of my wonderful grandmas (both sets of my grandparents were very active in my childhood and I have many fantastic memories). Thanks for your memories, and reminding us that they're always with us. *hugs*

chesneygirl said...

Sounds like your grandma lived a BEAUTIFUL life!!
Wonderful tribute to her, Clew!

HUGS!!

Martie said...

I hope someone thinks of me in this way after my passing......what a beautiful and wonderful tribute to your grandmother and what beautiful memories you have of her.

Very touching, Clew!

Jacquie said...

Hi Clew. Thanks for visiting me. Nice first drunken post for you to have an impression of me, huh? hah.

Anyway, this was so touching. What a beautiful woman she was and how lucky you are to have had such a close bond with. Thanks for sharing this. It reminds me to take more time with my family.

BigDadGib said...

Great story.
These are things no man can take from us.

Thank you for your post.

BDG

Rebecca said...

97! God bless Grandma.... :)
Hope all is well with you all out there...not too cold for ya! ;)

Cheryl said...

Thank you for this sweet post. This has special poignancy for me, as my own grandmother will be leaving the world a little duller in the next day or two.

God bless.

Sam said...

It's great to have such warm memories.
This is a poem I wrote for my best friend when her grandmother passed:

Shed A Tear

Hush.
Listen.
Quietly.
Closely.
Do you hear it?
On the breeze?
In the sigh of the earth?
That’s the voice
Of one not with us.
Gone from our sides,
But not our hearts.
Where they have gone
One day we will follow,
But for now
Shed a tear
In sadness for our loss,
And another in joy
For their gain.
And remember,
Always remember,
That their love
Will be ours forever.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like she was an awesome woman Clew...

Great tribute buddy....and what great memories.

Ame said...

what a beautiful gift she was and still is to you. may my life be such a beautiful gift to my granchildren someday :)