Grandma
For Grandpa’s funeral several people shared stories about the things they remember about him. Afterwards I wondered if there was anything I could have shared. I know that I’m the wrong person for this kind of things since specific events don’t tend to stick out in my mind. More like general perceptions and images. So now that we lay you to rest this week, I’m pondering again what things I could share.
To me two images of you come to mind. The first is a vision of you as a retired farm wife always working in your garden. A woman who was a bit stubborn, but had to be. Your children to a fault inherited that stubbornness. The image that sticks out most clearly for me though, is one of you at our family gatherings. Gathering at first in the basement of your house. Then meeting later in churches and halls when the family had grown too big. I can picture you smiling and laughing as we enjoyed a meal. Do you realize all your daughters laugh like you? A funny thing to realize that I can pick out my mom or aunts just by the sound of that laugh and that they all sound just about the same. It’s a picture of you and the rest of the family on Christmas Eve opening presents. You sitting on the right hand side of grandpa. Aunts, uncles, cousins and siblings all in chairs lined against the walls.
This is a scene I’ve missed in recent years and will now forever miss, but it’s also the one I always come back to when I think of our big/giant extended family. This Thursday will be our final chance to say goodbye to you and I’m going to do it in the best way I know how. By helping carry you to your final resting place.
Love,
Rich