My Grandma

I had one of the roughest mornings I can remember today. Somewhere between waking MAC up and getting up myself I fell back asleep. I even remember calling to MAC and saying "Don't turn on that TV you have reading to do!" and her answering me with, "Right." I know I did this! The next thing I remember is Marty Bass saying that today's "coffee with" was an interview with Bruce Bridegroom and knowing that meant that it was 6:45am and YES that meant that I had to get out of bed NOW!

MAC was up and had gotten her shower and was downstairs reading, or so I thought. When I got downstairs the TV was on and she was watching Family Matters and drawing. No she had not eaten any breakfast, no she had not started her 20 minutes of reading, no she had not taken her morning pills, no she hadn't gotten her lunch together (or even put her lunchbox where I could find it to put things in!) I was not happy.

When we finally left the house and I looked at the clock it was 7:18am. The bus has been arriving at 7:20. I sped all the way to Aberdeen and Riedel where the stupid stop light caught me. I watched the school bus as it passed us on its way to CES. Of course these are the days when you get stuck behind the slowest person on the road too! We got to the bus stop as the bus was pulling in to pick up. MAC was in a hurry and jumped out of the car and ran accross the street to CES so she could catch the bus before it pulled away.

The rough morning turned into a rough afternoon and evening. When I got in to work I got a phone call from my Mom. She wanted to tell me that my Grandma was not doing well and although she and Dad had planned to come up and visit for the weekend, they thought they were going to change plans and go visit Grandma in Tulsa.

About 2 hours later she called again to say that they were going to Tulsa and she would call later with news.

In the meantime I went and picked MAC up from school for her appointment with the "Prescribing doctor". It started well, she even like the snack that I had for her. Half way through the appointment she got mad and stopped talking to both the Dr. and me. I couldn't get her to talk again until we got home when she asked if she could just go upstairs and sleep.

While I was out this evening I got a phone call from my Dad. He said that he had just gotten a phone call from my Aunt and that Grandma had passed away. I have never seen a montage but I suddenly saw the last time we were together: looking through the photo album, going to church with her, having lunch with her at my Aunt's house, and giving hugs and kisses.

My Grandma was a teacher for years and I still remember her retirement party. There were so many people who were there to wish her well in the next phase of her life. I know seeing all her students helped me to decide to get my teaching degree.

I remember going to the library where she was volunteering. I love books and I thought it was great that she got to work with books everyday.

I remember the last time she came out to Maryland. It was sad and happy at the same time, Christmas is always a happy time for me but knowing that it was her last trip out was sad.

When I told MAC that Great Nana was not doing so well this afternoon, she asked if we were going to go visit. I had to say no. We talked about the last time we saw Great Nana and how wonderful it was to remember the hugs and having lunch. We talked about it being ok to be sad and that she could talk to her "talk therapist" tomorrow or me if she wanted. I hope that I can convey the fact that Grandma is in a better place tomorrow when I tell her that she has passed away.



This was us just a little over a year ago for Grandma's 90th Birthday.