Tonight I'm laying here on the floor uncomfortable and desperate to go to sleep. I'm in an unfamiliar room with a heater blowing too much. I am so grateful I can be here!
I am in my Grandma's assisted living apartment. Grandma is 92 years alive. She fell hard yesterday and got a brain bleed. She was in the hospital but this evening the Dr said she could come home. Someone needed to stay with her and I was the logical choice. I'm so glad I got this opportunity for a sleep over.
Grandma's memory has been slipping for a few years now and I think this bump made it worse. She thinks it is Christmas Eve and is worried about me leaving my kids to be with her. She is seeing people I don't see and hearing voices I don't hear. She knows who I am about 1/2 the time, the rest of the time she thinks I'm my mom.
But these things aren't important. What is important is the woman that she is.
This is my dad's mom, the only one of my grandparent's left. The one I was lucky enough to live less than 2 miles from. The one I rode my bike to on Sunday nights and ate her marvelous rolls and delicious Sunday dinners including creamed peas. The one who hosted sleepovers for me and my cousin Jennifer. Who would tell us the squirrel story with the squirrel who went "squee, squee, squee". The grandma who hiked the pyramids and walked the town and kept the secret of our "secret" hiding spots. She was the soft place to fall and the one who always believed in me.
Grandma's life wasn't easy, her mom died when Grandma was young. She raised 3 boys and then lost one way too early. She outlived the love of her life and struggled with depression.
My Grandma is a fighter and a strong lady. She is optimistic and positive and a hard worker. She likes people and playing cards and having fun. She told me that she thought when she fell that this was going to be the way she was going to die. I asked her how she felt about that. She said "I'm not ready, life is too much fun." She's an amazing example of bravery, strength, optimism and enduring to the end. And I'm blessed to call her Grandma.
Grandma Marie Meikle and me.
0 comments:
Post a Comment