Grandma Sarah

Grandma Sarah is not doing well. In fact, when I got to the hospital yesterday evening, the nurses were telling mom she had "minutes" to live. We all went in, gathered around her, said prayers, told her good-bye and waited. Well, we're still waiting. Grandma apparently had other plans!

It was nice to be with our family, listening to stories I'd never heard. It's always eye-opening to hear others' perspectives on a person and to hear about a side of them you have never experienced yourself. I remember feeling like this after both Grandma Ruby's and Uncle Jimmy's deaths also. There were so many other facets of their lives that I never knew until they were gone. The same holds true with Grandma Sarah. I got to hear about a woman who told bedtime stories to her children where she was the hero, I learned her favorite songs, I heard about her strength and the respect her former co-workers had for her. It shouldn't be surprising that there are so many things about her I didn't know. She lived a full 55 years before I was even born! But we each have only a limited understanding of the people around us based on our own interactions, when in truth there are so many other experiences in their lives that make them who they are.

I am sure the end is very near for my grandma and it will be sad to see her go. But I am so completely comforted to know that she lived her live more completely in her later years than anyone I've ever heard of. It's not often someone passes at 90 having had no serious health problems or hospitalizations until 4 months prior to their death. Not many women her age would still take the bus to exercise class or walk to McDonald's to meet her friends for coffee (or in her case, tea). I admire her ability to squeeze every drop of fun and enjoyment out of the life she was given, and I hope I can follow the example she set for me.