Goodbye, Grandma
03.18.07 (11:29 am) [edit]My grandmother left us overnight. She was 98 years old, and it had been almost seven years since her first stroke. Her pain is finally over.
Watching my father cry is a rare event.
RIP, Grandma.
Love,
Dougie
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She's going in the ground Thursday. Next to my grandfather, who died when I was 10 months old. Her mom is there - she was killed in a house fire when Grandma was three months old. Her sister is there - she died in 1924, 20 years old, during childbirth. Her grandparents are there - the ones who raised her when her mom died. An aunt and uncle. The two sons who died as babies - my uncles who died before my dad was born. Other relatives. All in one little area of a huge cemetery that has many, many other relatives, from Quaker ancestors who were among the first settlers of the county in the 1830s, to a cousin who killed himself in 1999, and a friend I played bass for in Southern California later that year.
They can put me there too. I'm nowhere near ready to join these people, I'm having too much fun/non-fun here to check out this soon, but that's where I want to go.
For those wondering abou my cryptic post yesterday, D and I have reconnected. In a very...physical manner. Hehehehe. I think we're back on the right path, I only wonder where it's leading.
Yeah, I ain't going on yet. I've got too much left to do here.
posted by: skyfalling (reply)
post date: 03.18.07 (11:23 am)
Sad to hear that. My condolence to you. :(
posted by: FinalyFree (reply)
post date: 03.18.07 (11:52 am)
What an amazing life. My heartfelt sympathies to you and your family.
posted by: eraserhead667 (reply)
post date: 03.18.07 (6:31 pm)
Reply to: skyfalling
Thank you very much.
posted by: eraserhead667 (reply)
post date: 03.18.07 (6:31 pm)
Reply to: FinalyFree
Thank you. And looking back, it was an amazing life - she was one hell of a woman. I always kinda knew that but never really appreciated it until the last couple years.
posted by: LadyG (reply)
post date: 03.18.07 (7:25 pm)
Sorry to hear about your grandmother, She was blessed to live a long life
posted by: auntconi (reply)
post date: 03.18.07 (9:31 pm)
My condolences to you on your loss of "grandma" ~
I just recently buried my mother of 88 years ~ sounds like you have strong ties to the family ~ and I share your wish to be "resting" with the family members from way back ~ wouldn't you like to hear some of those stories ~ my family has history like that in Michigan ~ and I told my son, when my time comes, you know where I want to go ~ but not now ~ I've got waaayy too much to do yet!
posted by: eraserhead667 (reply)
post date: 03.18.07 (9:41 pm)
Reply to: auntconi
You know my ex - she's the one that sparked my interest in genealogy, and Grandma had done a lot of it years ago. I found one of her works a couple years ago - a handwritten genealogy of her husband's family - in a library two hours from her.
I'm in a strange netherworld between reacting to the way I was brought up and the weird shit I had to endure being related to these wackjobs (probably no worse than what most people endure, but it's mine, so I bitch about it) and the knowledge that I owe these people my life. I feel the urge to tear down everything they built up at the same time I feel the urge to honor them and add a few of my own bricks to that construct.
It's been an odd weekend. I've cried even more than I usually have these last few months.
posted by: auntconi (reply)
post date: 03.19.07 (6:40 am)
Reply to: eraserhead667
I know your Ex - I guess that would be Alms ~ as I checked your 'links' and the only two names I like/know are George Carlin, and Almsthvn! One of these days I hope to meet Sheryl and Katie; so far I've only known them on tblog; they sound like 'my kind of people' ~ and genealogy can be so interesting!
Tears are not a bad thing ~ they can wash away 'stuff' ~ speaking of 'stuff' ~ GC does a wonderful bit about 'stuff' ~ it's an old bit he does, but I love it!
And, your daughter Katie is such a beauty (smart, too); looking forward to meeting her in person. You must feel she is about the best thing in your life! Take good care of her.
posted by: eraserhead667 (reply)
post date: 03.19.07 (5:56 pm)
Reply to: auntconi
I'm highly amused to see her and Carlin next to each other in a sentence. LOL.
She's good people. I'm lucky to know her and have yet to meet any other woman that could be nearly as excellent as a mother for our child.
Carlin is a personal hero, I have everything he's done.
Katie is just amazing and I'm in awe of her progress. She had a music show at school tonight and she was one of the most noticeable kids there, very active and into it. I'm shocked that I have anything to do with such a beautiful and endlessly fun and interesting child as her.
posted by: lovelikeliquid (reply)
post date: 03.20.07 (2:41 pm)
I'm so sorrry to hear about your grandma passing.
Watching my father tear up at his own mothers funeral service was incredibly difficult to see.