I don't normally post things like this; however, I thought this would be an exception.
We all grieve differently. On May 31, 2012, I received a phone call that my grandma had passed that morning. Shocked at first, I didn’t cry or emote much emotion besides shock and yet somehow, I was happy for her spirit. However, I knew that I needed to reflect my feelings about her. I’m no pro, but sometimes writing can trigger emotions one cannot always express verbally. This is my litany to her -
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My grandma was a fine lady. I remember going to her and my grandpa’s house all the time as they were my babysitters for the greater part of my childhood. She used to sit with me, take my silly quizzes that I made up so I could use their computer and grade them. But that’s beside the point. She took them. She also taught me card games such as “Scrunch”, Kings Corners, and many others in there somewhere. And let me not forget to mention that at the beginning of the summer she braved the mighty cold 60 degree water of their pool with me - just because I wanted to go swimming. Words that come to mind in my recollection of her - spirited, joyful, passionate, and most of all - loving. She never stopped loving. Always a hug and a kiss with those lips that were always covered in some bright shade of lipstick. But that was her. Her bright lips, her bright smile and her bright personality. She was a ray of sunshine for our whole family and I always felt close to her because she brought me in. Drew me into her sphere of giving.
One thing I can recollect is her passion for her Irish heritage and her passion for music. She introduced me to music that I might have never touched otherwise - music like the Chieftans, Andrew Lloyd Weber among others. I recall the times when I used to sit in her back room chair with a CD I had borrowed, and I would sit there. Listening. Perhaps she always knew that I would have such a strong bond to music. It runs in our family after all. She always had a spice to her. A sassy side that was stimulated by my grandpa’s grumblings or mumblings about one thing or another. The two of them loved each other so much. Loved their family and treasured the bond that they were able to instill in all of us. I am so proud to have come from a family where everyone is welcome. There are no “in-laws” in our family. We are all family. She was everyone’s mother and she kept that current strong. Or should I say they did. Eugene and Marilyn Husslein. They left a legacy of love and forever bound friendship.
I miss her. I miss her spark and yet, with her passing I am so happy that she is reunited with her spirit that was only half full after the love of her life left this world for the eternal. Now she is at peace. Now she is whole.
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I love you Grandma.
