My grandma was a brilliant, energetic woman who passed away May 11th. Less than a week after being diagnosed with liver cancer. She had the innocent, contagious energy of a child and the hard earned wisdom of a woman who lived her life to the fullest. And being married half a dozen times, she did indeed live life to the fullest!
Water was her vice. So much so, she was concerned they wouldn't have enough for her in heaven. She asked us multiple times if we thought God had sufficient water stored up. We assured her that God would know what she needed. After she passed, we smiled and said, "Guess she was finally convinced there would be enough water in heaven." Hilarious and witty despite her pain, my grandma left us smiling.
Watching my mother watch her mother die was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. My mother is amazing. Her strength. Her dedication and loyalty. No matter how much she cried, she was still beautiful. Me however, I cry and my face swells up like a ballon and my nose glows in the dark. I apparently got my dad's crying genes.
To her core, my mother is a genuinely good person. She'll only kill insects and small rodents. Nothing larger than that. Well, okay she ran over a snake once with the car, but it was only because she didn't see it until it was too late. Other than that, she doesn't kill much.
Through all the tears, there was laughter. Lots of laughter. Laughter because my grandma was funnier than hell. But also, because being around my family always leads to laughter. Someone always says something stupid, or a niece/nephew has projectile diarrhea... or sometimes we laugh because we don't know what else to do.
My point in talking about all of this is: I come from a long line of amazing women. If I turn out to be anything but amazing, it is my father's fault. Since only his genes could screw things up at this point.
Really though, I am very fortunate to have had my grandma's influence in my life. And even more so to have been raised by my mother. (and my father, but that's a whole other story!)
Peace Out.
:o)