Monday, April 25, 2016
Growing up, I heard lots of stories about how tough Grandma was, particularly around raising her 6 boys. And those are just the stories deemed child/teen appropriate – I’m sure there were quite a few more that most of the grandchildren never heard. But despite hearing these stories, I didn’t recognize her persistence and independence until she began having health problems. I was impressed and astonished at her determination to face her challenges head-on and to fiercely hold on to the lifestyle that she wanted to lead for as long as she could. I really admired that about her and hope I can be that strong and courageous as I get older.
Equally impressive was her willingness to open her door and invite in the inevitable chaos that came with a visit from her grandchildren. I distinctly remember how happy she would be to see us as the four of us would file into her condo, sometimes grumpy and often still fighting about who got to ring the buzzer or something else just as trivial and obnoxious. She never seemed annoyed and was always smiling as my parents tried to make sure we didn’t break anything or empty her pantry. I then got to (nervously) see the same scenarios play out through my parents’ eyes as I brought my own children to visit her. Even as her health was failing, she never had anything but smiles for my girls as they tried their hardest to find something to break. I’m thankful that her toughness meant that my daughters got to meet and spend time with their Grandma Betty.
Grandma, you will be missed and remembered always.
