A week ago today, my Grammam passed away. She was a wonderful woman with many people who loved her. I love her. And, I can't even begin to list all the wonderful memories I have with her throughout my life. When I would visit as a young child, she would let me eat a tastykake for my bedtime snack. While she cooked dinner, we would dance around the kitchen singing about tomatoes and potatoes. As I got older, we shared shopping trips and evening teas (hers was decaf with a little milk, I took an herb tea with milk and sugar). Once I became an adult, she dispensed advice and wisdom and shared tips on marriage, family, cooking, and life in general.
I lived with my Grammam for three summers during high school and college. I also spent many of my Thanksgiving and Easter breaks with her during college. I loved that she referred to her guest bedroom as my bedroom whenever we talked on the phone, even if it had been months since I had slept in there. With Grammam, I always felt that I had another home that was just as comfortable and familiar as the one I shared with my parents and siblings.
Grammam was a wonderful cook. She made the best soups, barbeque, potato cakes, peirogies, pigeons, and "platters" I've ever had. She enjoyed cooking and loved to do it for the people she loved. Every Sunday for years, she prepared a dinner. When I was with her, this was an opportunity for her to serve my uncles and myself. She also made sure she always had the best snack foods avaliable for me as well.
Throughout her life, Grammam loved to collect advice. I used to joke with her that she could write a book with everything she'd learned. She would always tell me that she should have started writing it all down years ago. "Pin a Bounce sheet to your window screens to keep the bugs out." "Use a drop of classic Dawn in warm water to make your jewelry shine." "Never microwave soup because it won't heat evenly, and serve it in a bowl you can drink from." "Add a few grains of rice to your salt shaker to keep it from clumping up."
For the past two and a half years, my Grammam's health had been deteriorating. It was often painful to talk to her because I could hear the decline in her voice. However, we were blessed that in general, my Grammam's mind and personality was in tact. As she fought through frequent hospitalizations and ER visits and was constantly navigating a full schedule of doctor's and specialist's visits, we was slowly getting worse. She was then admitted to the ICU with multiple problems, and we feared that she may not recover this time.
Thankfully, everything worked out where I was able to drop my life in Augusta, GA and rush to Shamokin, PA to be with her. I had two wonderful days to spend with her. While she had difficulty talking, she was alert and lucid and could converse as much as her breathing allowed. In fact, she appeared to be improving. The second day I was there, the conversation was much easier and more positive. She was able to eat again and even enjoy a cup of tea.
During that night, though, she took a turn for the worse. On Saturday, October 23, 2010, my Grammam passed away quietly and peacefully. While I miss her tremendously, I am drawing comfort from knowing that she is no longer in pain and is in a much better place than this earth. She has joined her husband and daughter. While I will continue to mourn her absence, I know that she is much, much happier. And, one day, I will see her again. I love you Grammam.
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