The Old Ladies

Funerals are never easy, and today was no different. It was so hard seeing my mom and her siblings grieve for a woman who we all secretly thought would live forever. I mean, the woman was never sick until a few short months ago. I always thought that was such a gift to her, to be able to live her life the way she wanted to until the very end. But I think that made her sudden illness and passing much harder for her children. 

Having lost Grandma Ruby so recently, I think it somehow made Grandma Sarah's passing easier for me. I realized there comes a time when it is no longer the best thing for them to hang on and we need to let them go. The one thing that was different about today was that Grandma Sarah left behind a sister. For as long as I can remember, it's always been Grandma and Aunt Catsy. They come as a pair. The family has taken to fondly referring to them as "the old ladies". Today, as we were leaving the church I happened to catch a glimpse of Aunt Catsy, sitting very still in her wheelchair as everyone filed out around her. She was watching Grandma's casket and there was such a look of grief on her face. As I watched her it hit me in my gut how I would feel if something happened to Missy and it was heart-wrenching. I immediately sought out my own sister and clung to her.  We just stood there together, crying. I pray to God that Missy and I have as many years together as those "old ladies" did, and I pray that Aunt Catsy can somehow find peace without her sister.