celebrating & remembering Grandma

April 2010

Once upon a time,
a girl named Sharen,
was dating a boy named Larry.
They had just gotten off the train and she was waiting
for him to return with their luggage.
Finally, she saw him running toward her.
He picked her up, hugged her, and twirled her around.
They went back to the car and
he had her close her eyes and hold out her hand.
He slipped an engagement ring onto her finger
and kissed her before she could open her eyes.
In the words of my grandma's journal:
"I couldn't believe it.
I was engaged to Larry Hone,
the boy I had loved for 5 years."
Their 51st wedding anniversary is
in just a couple weeks.

The picture
on my table.

Grandma passed away yesterday.
It is bittersweet.
The long journey with Alzheimer's is over.
There is much rejoicing in heaven now.
And that brings comfort.

I am miles & miles away from Grandpa.
I want so bad to be there with him
and the rest of the family.
I needed to feel connected
and also celebrate the truly remarkable
lady that was such an influence in my life.
So I found a picture of my grandparents
at my wedding and made it the dining table centerpiece.

I searched in my closet for
my grandma's old shirts she wore in the 70s.
Aren't they awesome?
They used to be part of my regular wardrobe, too,
back in the day.
I know my HS friends will remember these lovelies!

If only this fit - it's too small now!
I LOVE it and
will never part with it.

Trying these on totally brought me back
to that Sunday afternoon
that I discovered Grandma's treasure trove
in her closet.
We had just had our traditional Sunday spaghetti dinner.
My parents & grandparents & I were visiting in their bedroom
while I was freaking out over
all the polyester glory that had been hiding all those years!
They got great laughs as I tried on her clothes.
And I was in heaven.

For dinner last night,
I made a whole wheat waffle recipe
that she gave me years ago.
And I thought about how grateful I am to her
and my grandpa.
Their love & devotion to each other!
Their love of God.
Support of family.
Being wonderful examples to all of us.

PS: I had mine with Nutella
& bananas & syrup.

I had an assignment in 5th grade
to interview a grandparent.
I interviewed Grandma and she
told me the best story:
her mother had asked her to clean her room.
Grandma was the oldest of ELEVEN kids
so I can see why this would be important.
Grandma didn't do it.
When the bus pulled up to her house after school,
her clothes, including unmentionables,
were strung all throughout the front yard.
Oh, that's a good one!!

Grandma was a lovely singer.
She played oldies in the car when we
went on errands with her,
which drove my Uncle Kelton nuts.
I still love the song,
"Hang down your head, Tom Dooley."
Her childrens' friends called her "mom."
She made me & my sister
tuna fish sandwiches after school
and said we couldn't jump on the trampoline
with the sprinklers unless it was
84 degrees or warmer.
She made clam chowder before we all
went Christmas caroling.
She always remembered everybody's birthdays.

It is indeed a sad time.
But my grandma is a lady to be celebrated.
Like last April.........

We had a family reunion in honor of
my grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary!
Their 5 children + lots of grandkids + a heap of great-grandkids
It was awesome!

When my grandma saw this picture on the table,
she just started laughing.
Laughing and giggling!
Alzheimer's had claimed most of her vocab.
But my, she was super giddy about seeing

that wedding picture.

My grandpa loves his bride.
There was never a moment to doubt it.
He was always so kind and loving and patient.
Even when she couldn't care for herself
and needed so much help.
He was sweetly there.
My heart aches for him now.

But they will see each other again.
They will be together forever.
They will run to each other again and hug and twirl around.