Peace be with you Grandma.
My Grandma Cathy (seen in the 2004 layout above) passed away on Friday evening after living a very fantastic full life.
Grandma Cathy was my Mom's Mom. Awesome, independent, vivacious, confident - all words that come to mind when I think of her. She was a super classy dresser and she gave the best hugs. She and my Grandpa always had the coolest drink stirrers in their bar area. She kept an immaculate home: tidy and organized and the most formal of any of my relatives. The ticking of a grandfather clock and the crazy sound of a cuckoo clock will always generate thoughts of my Grandparents. Her simple vinaigrette salad dressing is still one of the best I have ever tasted.
As a child one of my favorite things to do when visiting my Grandma was to have tea + cookies with her. I always felt really special and grown-up during those times. She had a delicate white cat teapot (which now lives with me) that poured the best cups of tea in the whole wide world.
One of the things I will treasure most about my Grandma is that she was such an awesome Mom to my Mom. I benefit from their relationship daily because she taught my Mom how to be a good Mom (through her words, actions, kindness, example, etc) and a good friend. My Mom and Grandma were close as adults, just as my Mom and I are close. My Mom means the world to me and I am so very lucky to have her in my life.
Thank you Grandma for giving me such a wonderful Mom.
I also want to share with you a very special email that Chris sent to my Mom on Saturday evening:
I talked with Simon a little about Grandma Cathy tonight. I brought it up during a break in our TV time, and then later when I tucked him in. We said a special prayer for Grandma Cathy and then I asked him if he loved Grandma Cathy and he nodded yes in the pure way that only he can. Then I asked him what he remembered about Grandma Cathy and he said: "Going to the city, in the tall buildings, and going in the elevator like this" (followed by upward motion with his hand) : )
I asked him if he remembered all the cats and that Grandma Cathy always called him Tiger. He shook his head and said "yes". Then I asked if he remembered the x's and o's for the tic tac toe game. He again nodded yes and then said, "and I look out the window at the city and all the tall buildings".
I am really grateful that Simon has some memories of Grandma Cathy and he seemed happy thinking about them.
Sometimes you have powerful moments that you can feel are being seared into your memory as they are happening. This was one of those. It wasn't long, but the few minutes remembering Grandma Cathy with Simon was moving and brought to mind all kinds of emotions. Good ones. For Simon, for Grandma Cathy, and for all the family.
Just thought you might like to know.
Love,
Chris
We all miss you Grandma. I am going to have a special cup of tea in that fantastic cat teapot to celebrate you today. Give Grandpa a big hug from each one of us.
I am so sorry for your loss. Peace to you and your family.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I am so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my prayers.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
So sorry for your loss Ali. You and your family are in my prayers.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Ali,
As I was reading your post about your grandma, I welled up with tears when you mentioned the tea you had with her was the best in the whole wide world. Those 3 little words are were written in such a pure child like way and I feel so happy for you to have had such wonderful experiences with her. I never knew any of my gradparents. I wonder what it would have been like to grow up with them in my life. I always imagined it to be wonderful.
I know I would be a different person than I am now, but how?
I also loved that you mentioned the letter that Chris wrote about Simon, I wept while I read that also. You seem to have a very close and spiritual family. So Congratulations for being a very good grand-daughter of a very wonderful grandmother!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
ali-
you said, "Her simple vinaigrette salad dressing is still one of the best I have ever tasted." i share the same memory of my grandmother... she made that salad everytime we were there for dinner. her secret ingredient was fresh avocado. :) thanks for sharing your memories. it brought a smile to my face knowing that we all have so much in common with those we love!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Hearing about your grandmother has inspired me to start working on an album about mine. I have so many wonderful memories about my grandmothers who were very different from each other yet similar in several ways.
My heart goes out to you because the loss is never easy. What a great blessing you had her in your life for so long.
Let us always honor the women who created and molded us into who we are today.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
What a wonderful tribute to your Grandmother to have a cup of tea in her teapot in honor of her life. She is sure to be tipping her cup up in Heaven.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Ali, condolences to you and your family. How special that you have captured times with her and Simon together. Enjoy that cup of tea. She's smiling down on you :)
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family during this time.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
what a beautiful post ali.... *hugs*
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My 95-year old Grandma [also Mom's mom] passed away on the 28th of Feb. She lived a long life and am happy that my children got to "hang" with her. I wrote soem stuff on my blog about her. Check it out!!!
sandrascafe.blogspot.com
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Oh Ali, I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you and your family always.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Holding you and your family in prayer Ali. I know that the special memories that you have of your grandmother will bring you comfort and peace.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Reading Chris' email to you brought a tear to my eye. I have no doubt that Grandma Cathy is smiling that special "grandmother" smile on all of you for the love you have for each other. Grandma Cathy was a wonderful influence and a special member of your family. Her spirit and love fills your heart...take peace in that.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I'm sorry! Reading this brought tears to my eyes remebering how special my grandma was!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
What a wonderful tribute and special memories.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Ali,
I am so very sorry about the loss of your sweet Grandma. Reading your post, I got a very good idea of what it was like to be at her home and to be around her. I love that you shared so many specific memories. Do you notice Simon had the same detailed recollections? I love that you have that in common. :)
Love,
Jennifer
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Oh...I just read your post about your grandma. She sounds like she was a really neat lady. I'm so glad that Simon was able to remember her and like the memory.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
sorry for your loss, you and your family are in my prayers and thoughts.
Hugs & kisses
Sharon
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My heart goes out to you and your family. May you find peace, and most of all extreme joy as you remember those special moments you spent together.
Hugs!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Ali, I was so touched by the words you wrote about your grandmother. They made me smile and remember my grandmother as well. Thank you for sharing such private moments in your life with all of us. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
kim
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Ali ,
all our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
I will send your beautiful blog message to my sister which ,just a few weeks before her wedding, lost her future father-in-law .
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Ali, I am very sorry for your loss.My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. May the many wonderful memories of Grandma Cathy fill your heart and give you peace.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I'm so glad you have such wonderful memories of your grandmother. My husband lost his grandma last Thursday. She raised him from the age of 8 and was such a stong presence in all of our lives. I know how important grandparents can be. Although I'm sure she will be missed, she will live on in all of you.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
So precious for you to share with us. Time passes...so easily to forget.
Prayers for your family.
Sign in or sign up to comment.