Earlier images of grandma
Sleepover parties at grandma and grandpa’s.
The thing about sleepovers is they’re not necessarily about sleep, or even rest, so much as about being with those who really love you.
Swimming in the pool and playing go fish at the table
Colourful language, she’d say “pardon my French” but I don’t think it was French
And jokes, the same one, mainly, the stuttering Bible salesman
Prayer and ju jubes and tea and cookies
Not all at once, of course, but we were younger and memories become jumbled as time passes.
Time passes. Of course it does. What else is it supposed to do?
We grew and grandma shrank,
And I suppose grandpa did too, for solidarity of course.
Grandpa, her best friend
In sickness and in health
Easy to forget about the second part, the “in health” part, in later years.
Grandma was feisty and grandpa was a fighter when his health and life depended on it,
But there came a day when he had to go.
Grandma trusted he was with God but missed him dearly.
We told her grandpa was “dancing with the angels”
But she said he was never much of a dancer when he danced with her…
Later images of grandma
Phone calls and banter and hugs
And jokes, the same one, mainly, the stuttering Bible salesman
Joking about chesterfield rugby and cherry brandy, two things I know nothing about
Prayer and candy and her dancing with Esther the PSW [personal support worker]
Losing power but holding on to the power of prayer
Stories of the joys and pains of growing up and growing old
Like her mother Grandma Young, losing every sense but the sense of humour
Not all at once, of course, but grandma was older and memories become jumbled as time passes.
She wanted a new walker, maybe God figured He could do better.
Grandma went to bed.
Now the feisty lady rests in peace.
The thing about heaven is it’s not exactly about sleep, or even rest, so much as about being with those who really love you.
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