Last spring my grandmother died after spending a couple of years in a nursing home and suffering from Alzheimer’s. In the end it was a relief that she passed because she was obviously in pain all the time, just laying on her bed not able to move.
She was a lady with an attitude. She wasn’t afraid to tell what she was thinking and sometimes it seemed that she didn’t think before speaking. She didn’t really show her soft side too often, if ever, and people including her children were sometimes questioning if she had a soft side at all. But she laughed quite a lot and had a good sense of humour and a sharp head until the Alzheimer’s took her thoughts.
During the summer her children had to go through all grandma’s stuff and my dad brought some notebooks home with him. We found out that she had kept a diary for the past 15 years or so. She had also written down some memories from her earlier years. Mostly she was telling about normal daily stuff but at times also about how she wasn’t really happy in her marriage, but stayed in it because a divorce wasn’t really an option at the time and because she had promised to stay with my grandad. She was also writing about her children and grandchildren a lot.
What was most surprising though was that she had an album for each child (all six of them) and she had also kept all the letters, invitations (to grandchildren’s graduation parties and so on) and cut clips from the newspapers. So only after she passed we found out that she really had a softer side there. It took my dad by surprise since he somehow always emphasised her cold and rough features. Is it some kind of pride that stops us telling how important some people are to us? Or was it just harder back then when the entire life was about surviving (during and after the war in Finland)? Or is it just a quality in a person? Or a combination of all this?
On top of the diaries and the album my dad got grandma’s clock. It strikes every hour each hour, plays a tune every half an hour and a shorter alarm type sound every fifteen minutes. Can you guess how annoying it is? Today I was trying to study at my parent’s place next to this clock. But after a while it made me smile. I could feel and hear my grandma laughing: “There you go! Enjoy!” That would have been her type of humour.
It made me miss her.
Hugs, Momone
Very emotional, i know these types of post hurts a lot while writing
This time it didn't really hurt too much. Mostly it brought a smile on my face thinking about my grandmother.
Can't say for sure sometimes. Painful that people never really get to know us fully when we're alive
Yes, I think it takes a lot of courage to show your true self to people. It's not always easy to even admit to yourself who you are.
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STOPThere is no time like the present to call someone and tell them you miss them or to thank them for nothing at all. Saying these things when they are felt is important because we never really know when the chance will be taken away from us. Going to bed angry with a loved partner is never a good idea...What if they don't wake up? Leaving home for work after an argument also for instance...Car accidents happen. Living with regret is no way to live...And so I say what comes to mind to the people that matter. That way there I get to create and design my ideal life rather than have choices made for me.
Good post @momone
Thank you @galenkp. You are absolutely right. Have I told you that I like you and miss you a lot? :)
:)
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