Grandma has lived with my parents for the last 7 1/2 years. I have had the opportunity (though sometimes I did not call it that) to go and visit with her ever week and do her hair. To be honest I did not really enjoy doing it all of the time. Sometimes I felt it was more of a burden than a blessing. But, now that I won't have that opportunity it makes me a little sad. And I feel that I should have had a better attitude about doing it.
On Christmas Eve 2012 grandma suffered a heart attack and the doctors said she wouldn't pull through. Well she did. Of course she did. Grandma was stubborn. She wasn't going to let anyone else tell her that her time was up. She was going to decide that one on her own. She pulled through, but needed 24 hour care after that. So for the last month she lived in a group home a few miles away from mom & dad's house. And they took good care of her there.
All of us in the family took turns going to visit her. We each had a day. Mine was Friday- the same day I usually went to do her hair. Last Friday I was at my dad's shop (he's a carpenter) helping out. When I left I had just enough time to get home, before the kids got home from school. But I also knew (some how) that if I didn't go visit grandma, I never would see her again in this life. I went home.
I got a phone call Saturday afternoon telling me about grandma. And I cried a little. The husband said, "I thought you all would be happy. She wasn't doing well." It made me a little upset. But that's just how his brain works. And it's true anyway. I am happy. Happy that she can reunite with loved ones long passed. Happy that she doesn't have to be bogged down by an old body that isn't working so well anymore. Happy that she doesn't have to stay in the group home, because she didn't want to be there. Happy that she lived such a good life.
But sad too. And that's only natural.
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| Grandpa & Grandma Potter |
3 comments:
Your grandma sounds like my grandma. Her husband died in his 60s I think and she is now 92 or 93 and such a fighter just like yours! I'm sorry you have some regrets but I bet that she loved when you came to do her hair and had no idea that sometimes it was hard for you to be there. It's good that you went and did it anyways and you won't have that regret!
I'm so sorry for your loss! I do love that picture of the two of them you posted.
I have to say that my husband's brain works just like your husband's does, but after a number of deaths in our families since we got married, he's finally able to realize how you can feel both happy and sad at the same time, and respects me when my feelings don't necessarily coordinate with his.
Hugs to you all. :)
Hugs Nat! What a wonderful life she must have led. I hope your family was able to write down some of her life experiences. You came from good stock woman. Love you!
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