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Memorial
6/3/08
Friday, June 6, 2008
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Memorial
Granny's memorial service will be this coming Monday, and I will be unable to attend. The ticket to get to either Atlanta (Where I could drive up with my sister, Mom and sister in law) or to the Philly area (Where I could drive the remainder of the way with my cousin and her family) is much more than we can afford at the moment. It saddens me that I'll be unable to be with my family at this time - Granny was the matriarch - the only remaining grandparent - it's just part of life when you are not well endowed in the Bank of Mom and Dad.
While we were all fairly well prepared for Granny's passing, as she's been unwell for some time, it's never easy to say goodbye to someone. I don't really think of her as "Gone" though. She's just in a much better place, where she will be pain free, and able to watch over her family, blessing us as is needed. (Believe me, it's always needed!) I think what will please my Grandmother most of all is being able to look after those of us who weren't able to see her these past few years since she became ill. Previously, she'd travel to be with us, but was unable to do so once she began having trouble with her legs. She'll get to "See" her great great grandchildren. I know she was heartbroken to never be close enough to hold them.
Family was always very important to Granny. She was always considerate in her gift giving, selecting her presents with great thought and pride. I suppose that's why losing some of the jewelry she had given me in the burglary was a hard pill to swallow. It hurts even more now that she's passed to the other side.
Oh my, the stories Granny Dot would tell. She was a very interesting person. She was a model at one time, and her legs appeared on a billboard in Times Square. (I believe, at one time, her legs were also superimposed on another model's body, for another billboard.) She was on the cover of Collier's magazine several times. My sister is in possession of those covers now. What a treasure! She and my grandfather were friends with JoeDiMaggio* during (And after) his marriage to MarilynMonroe*. Granny swears the reason for the divorce was Joe's desire for children, and Marilyn's desire to not be a mother. (Just as well, I suppose.) Granny cared for her elderly mother for many years, and I always remember her being a wonderful caretaker. She kept Nanny in yarn for her knitting, or thread for her marvelous crocheted doilies. There was always a fresh box of peppermint patties in Nanny's nightstand drawer, too. (I think Nanny went through them so quickly because she gave them all to her great grandchildren!) Granny cared for her until she was no longer able to, and Nanny had to be put in a nursing home, where she eventually passed away. Granny swore she'd never end up in a nursing home, "Left to die" like her mother. Where do you suppose Granny passed away? At the very same nursing home my Nanny died in. There was no other option, however, as Granny needed the doctors and nurses to care for her. It couldn't be done by my aunt and cousins - her needs were just to great to be sent home, or to someone else's home.
Granny lived alone until she was 96. I'd say that was a great feat in and of itself. She never wanted to be a burden to anyone. My aunt had to finally stop taking Granny for a license renewal as she tended to drive with a lead foot. She tried six or seven times to renew her license before my aunt had to tell her "No more." Granny swore up and down it was the testers fault, not her own. The tester "had it in for her" because she was old. Having a lead foot in the mountainous area she lived in could never be a good thing. We were all quite relieved to know she could no longer drive, but Granny was not. She hated having to call someone for a ride, or use the cab service. (Though she was quite happy she could call a cab and go any where for three dollars with the seniors discount.) She was quite independent until well into her nineties.
When the kids were little, she'd knit matching sweaters for them, or send outfits that matched, along with a few toys that they never really seemed to be interested in. They knew when a package was from her, as she was heavy on the tape use. It was like getting in to Fort Knox trying to open her boxes. The kids nicknamed her "The Tape Queen." She got a good laugh out of that, and would often call and identify herself as 'The Tape Queen" if they answered the phone.
Granny came to visit me once while Hub was overseas for a few months. We didn't have a spare bedroom, so she slept with me in my room. One night we were getting ready for bed, and she was talking about sex, and an incident that happened soon after she and my grandfather got married. It's quite a funny story, but not one I can relate in a public forum. We were laughing so hard it was like being at a slumber party in high school. Before she rolled over to go to sleep she giggled and said "The night (Hub) comes back, please call me. I want to wear earplugs to bed that night, because you'll be flying across the room screaming in orgasms and I don't want to hear it all the way in Pennsylvania!" Hee! She was a character!
There are so many more stories I could wax poetic about, but I'll save those for some other time.
Rest in blissful peace, my lovely Tape Queen.
* Names typed without spaces so searches for them on the Internet won't end up here.
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This entry has 4 comments: (Add your own)
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I can just imagine how disappointed you are that you can't get to the service. But you have just done your own personal memorial to her here...and it is beautiful and touching. I know you will miss her.
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So very sorry you cant get to the service for your Gran ,You will be there in thought though ,What fantastic memories of a great character ,and whilst you have those gems to think and chuckle about ,she will never be far away ..love Jan xx
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So sorry you won't be able to attend...but understandable...
She sounded like a lovely lady...many hugs and love,
Joyce
6/9/08 8:53 PM
She sounds like a wonderful unforgettable woman. I'm sure she is partying with Joe and Marilyn in the stratosphere somewhere....
What a wonderful heritage she left you in her living!