She'd curl me up on her couch with a fluffy pillow, my favorite blanket, my favorite t.v. show, and a kitchen full of my favorite foods just waiting for me to ask for something, anything. How did she have my favorite foods when she didn't even know that I was coming over sick until that morning? Somehow, she always managed to stock each of her grandkids favorites so an impromptu visitor was never disappointed with her refrigerator or pantry. Even for my kids, even when she couldn't drive and had trouble getting to the grocery store, a visit never was met with disappointment.
And no request was too big or too small. I was there for her to take care of me, and taking care of me was something she did better than almost anyone else I've known. And she did it without making me once feel as if I was putting her out or as if she was doing me a favor. Taking care of me was just a natural extension of her love, and to her as much a needed part of her existence as breathing.
As I got older and was able to take care of myself, getting sick didn't necessarily mean a stay on grandma's couch. But then, when I was a freshman in college, I came down with mono. And I got to spend the week on my grandma's couch. I don't remember much of it. I know that she nurtured and nursed me and that I mostly slept. When I was awake, she fed me to my heart's content. And we talked and talked. My grandma kept more of a college student's hours than a grandmother's, so we had a grand time and leaving when she healed me was harder than I ever imagined it could be.
If given the choice, I'd pick sick on her couch over healthy on anyone else's.
Madonna Evelyn Kirby
December 18, 1923 - April 9, 2008
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10 comments:
My Nana has been gone for a while..but I was thinking about her this weekend..I LOVED her lap..I would put my head on her lap and she would tickle my ear and face with a kleenex..NOTHING was better and nothing has come close...
That was so sweet!! I bet you made Grandma proud!
Am all teary-eyed. Sounds like she was an amazing woman who loved big and that she was surrounded by love as well.
I am so very sorry for your loss. My heart is with you.
What such sweet memories. I had a Great Aunt like that. Just being in her presence was like being hugged. Thanks for sharing.
Oh, Heather - she sounds so special - what a nice tribute to your sweet grandmother and what a beautiful lady she was!
Take care - Kellan
What a wonderful tribute to your Grandma. You were lucky to have been so blessed. I am sorry for your loss. -Karla
I'm so sorry for your loss. That really was a beautiful tribute though. It sounds like she was a great person.
www.kathy-iamwhoiam.blogspot.com
This was such a beautiful tribute. Some people's prescense is so powerful!
How beautiful. You have written another wonderful tribute that has brought tears. You see, you just described the mother I had and the grandmother that I hope to some day be. As a matter of fact, I think I'll save this as a primer for future reference. ;o) By the way, my mother's middle name was also Evelyn.
Keep writing, honey. It will ease the sorrow and keep her close to your heart and her memory alive not only for you, but for your children so that they will know where there mom got a large part of her beautiful heart.
I am sure she will be greatly missed by you. Your words were so nice. I hope your memories offer you some comfort.
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