On November 8th, my Grandmother (whom we called Nanny) passed away. My Mother had been care taking for her since last December. They moved her from her home in Michigan. Another plus to living next door to my parents is that I got to spend a lot of time with Nanny after years of only seeing her a handful of times each year.
Last November she was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease at age 77. It seemed as if she had a mini stroke, her speech was a tad slurred and she just seemed a little different. Finally, she went to Mayo clinic and they figured out what she had. It was such a shock to our family. Nanny was such an active woman. She could do anything from paint a room to lay flooring. She enjoyed gardening more than anything. She loved walking and having coffee with her friends. She had such high energy! It was interesting to watch her decline. Sad, of course! But, interesting because even until the end she was my smiling, loving, hugging Nanny. The disease could not take that from her. She was on a feeding tube and was unable to talk for such a long time. That seemed to happen so quickly. I was not with her the early morning that she passed, but I was with her the entire day prior. She had went into a coma state that weekend. It was as if her spirit had already left and her body was just there. I do not fear death like I used to. I have been so near to death with all my grandparents (Nanny was my last grandparent to go). It's amazing that beauty can be found in watching someone breathe their last breaths. I suppose I can only feel this way because I believe in God and life beyond this. Loss is never easy. There are so many times where I've wanted to shout to the world...STOP, someone I love has died!!! But, as Robert Frost said..."In 3 words I can sum up everything I know about life: it goes on." We are meant to keep moving. And, as I like to believe - moving towards the light.
This picture was taken by me with my cell phone the morning of Nanny's funeral in Escanaba, Michigan.
