G-ma

My Aunt called me today to let me know that my Grandma passed away last night. They found her sitting on her couch this morning. They think she had a heart attack last night. Thankfully, I had just spoken to her last week after they had to put her 16 year old Toy Poodle, Daisy, to sleep. G-ma had sent me an email just a few days ago. She had finally gotten her computer up and running again and was able to read both this and my Oregon blog. She was excited to see pictures of the kids.

Grandma was 82 and lived in Tremont, Illinois. She had 8 children and my mom was one of them. Seems my mind is flooded tonight with memories. My parents moved to Illinois from Guam when I was 8 months old. They tell me I loved G-ma immediately. Went right to her as if I'd known her the whole time. I loved going to G-ma's house. The only time I ever asked for my mom was when I had a 104 temperature. Everyone wants their mom then.

My uncle died in a construction accident when I was 3. I was at her house after the funeral. G-ma cried and cried. I remember climbing up on her bed and saying, "Be happy, G-ma. Be happy." G-ma never forgot that. She reminisced about it not too long ago during one of our phone conversations. She sent me a plaque with that saying on it when I was little. It hung in my bedroom for years. I'm sure it's around here somewhere.

I got angry with my mom once when I was about 4 and I packed my little play suitcase, put my coat on over my pj's and went to the front door. When my mom asked where I was going, I firmly announced that I was "going to G-ma's to stay 2 weeks."

We moved to California and had flown to see G-ma for a visit. The night before we were supposed to fly back home, I came down with the chicken pox. Dad had to fly home without us, but I was excited because I got to stay another week!

I remember G-ma coming to stay with us for a few months when we lived in Hawaii. Mom was having surgery and G-ma came to help out. We were cleaning the upstairs bathroom and came across an ugly Cane Spider. They are furry and as big as your hands but absolutely harmless. Except to give you a fright. G-ma and I both screamed and ran like little girls. What a sight!

She was there when I graduated from high school. She came to Florida and we all went down to spend an entire month at my Uncle's condo in Naples. G-ma and I would go to the pool and lay in the sun together and just talk.

I remember going through old black and white photos at her house after Grandpa died and telling stories. I remember laughing until we cried. We did that a lot. G-ma was so funny! We always had so much fun together.

I remember a big chunk of our family going to Disney at Christmas time. There were 18 of us. We stayed together the entire day and would take up entire rides. I think we all fit in a Small World boat, and a huge section of Thunder Mountain Railroad. But I can not ride Space Mountain to this day without thinking of her. She was 70 years old and got on Space Mountain for the first time. She rode the car in front of us with Marc and my cousin. Russ and I were in the car right after them. When we rounded the corner to where you get off the ride, G-ma was on the floor. My heart sank as I just knew she was having a heart attack. Come to find out, she was laughing so hard that she fell on the floor when she got out! She was perfectly fine!!! We all laughed until we cried.

She was at my wedding. She worked so hard making homemade mints for the reception. They didn't work out because of the humidity here in Florida so she went out and bought a bunch of Fannie Mae's instead.

She met Jarod about 5 years ago. That was the last time we were up there. It was shortly after my mom died and we were traveling to Colorado for a Campus Crusade Retreat.

All families have their "stuff" and ours is no exception. But no matter what has happened, I've always known that G-ma loved me. Even though we lived far away, she is a vibrant person who played a big role in my childhood. I am so very thankful to have had her in my life. She will be greatly missed.