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.
Hope you'll be sustained by happy memories. You're in my thoughts and prayers, sweet girl.
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Ali and Family-
My heart goes out to you right now. I love your memories of your time with your grandma, they are so very special. I recently lost my grandmother (well 2 years ago) and my heart still hurts every single day when I think about it. I am most grateful that my son was able to meet her, spend time with her (if only for a few days) and know her the way I did. It is such a wonderful feeling!! After reading this today, you have helped me (in ways nobody has been able to yet) to truly look back on all the wonderful memories, jot them down and think of them. I know that my grandma and your grandma wouldn't want us sad but happy and drifting on the best memories possible. Starting today, I will do that. No more sadness of her being "gone" and away from me because her memories, her warmth, her wonderful "grandmother ways" are with me fresh and tucked deep in my heart. Thank you Ali! I know this wasn't your purpose but I truly say, "thank you from the bottom of my heart for opening the door for me to begin to truly heal and let go of the pain." Hears to happy times and blissful memories. =)
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My sincere condolences to you and your family. So sorry this happened. Iam so glad that you, chris and simon have such wonderful memories of her, that's wonderful. From what I've read she left a magnificent legacy..thank you for sharing this special moment with us, it touched me.
Prayers to you and your family, with deep admiration and respect, Paola Norman
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I am so sorry for your loss, but I love that you've remembered her in such a beautiful way. Hugs!
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You and your family will be in my prayers. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful story about your Grandmother. What a blessing to have such wonderful memories. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
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What a touching post. It sounds like you have so many fond memories of your Grandma and that makes dealing with the sadness so much easier. I lost my Grandma and Grandpa on my Dad's side in the past couple of years and I hold on to the small treasures I was able to keep from their house...they are warm reminders of all the great times we had together. {{HUGS}}
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dude, loved this post. it is a rich family tribute to an obviously wonderful woman.
I consider myself one of the luckiest people to be so close to you.
I am glad I was there when you heard the news. And you know that I am here if you need anything.
It's good to know that after all these years we've perfected that eye contact that acknowledges that we understand one another.
because without saying anything we both understand.
thanks for your friendship and warmth, your creative inspiration and for your genuine love. Your grandma will simply continue to shine thru you.
:)
P
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Ali,
I lost my Gram three short years ago almost to the day. I too have only happy memories. They are the best kind. May the thoughts of others bring you comfort.
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Grandmothers are the best!!! I know yours will be very much missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
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Grandmothers are the best!!! I know yours will be very much missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
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My thoughts are with you and your family. It's good to remember because then, in those thoughts, the people we love are alive. It's good to know your son will be able to remember and cherish those thoughts.
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Oh, Ali, I am sending you love and prayers for your Grandma. What a special lady she was. You are so blessed to have had her in your life and I know she will continue to be a positive influence on you. Your post has brought tears to my eyes. I am going to call my Grandma right now. Thank you.
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Ali,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. You have the most amazing family... so supportive and uplifting... what a blessing to have at times like these. And you're well on your way to continuing the legacy of her by being the great mom that YOU are.
Hugs,
stacey
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My deepest sympathies to you and your family. I hope you take comfort in the fact that your grandmother lives on in your precious memories, photographs and scrapbooks. It's times like this that I cherish our art even more.
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Ali, so sorry for your loss. Isn't it wonderful that you have scrapbook pages to remember her by? What a lovely keepsake for you and your family. Thinking of you, Lori
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Ali - what a wonderful tribute to your Grandma, both the sweet things that you remember about her, and then Chris' retelling of Simon's memories. Wow. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Lawren in Colorado
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So sorry for your loss, she sounds like a wonderful woman. Happily you and your family have wonderful memories to cherish.
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SO sorry for your loss. It is evident that your grandma was a special lady. Peace and comfort to you and yours.
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i am so sorry for your loss. peace be with you, too.
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I'm so sorry for your loss.
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Ali: I am sorry for your loss but grateful that you shared such lovely memories with all of us. I lost my mom February 2007, then my 96-year-old grandmother February 18, 2008 and my mother-in-law 10 days later. I am who I am thanks to these three strong, wonderful women, and find strength in the memories we created together. Blessings and peace to your family.
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I read your blog often but this is the first time I have decided to post. The words you shared about your Grandma moved me so much. I visited my Grandma this weekend who is in the early stages of alzheimer's. Thinking of her being able to hug my Grandpa again makes the pain of seeing her memories slip away just a little easier. Thank you...my deepest sympathy to you and your family.
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Ali- I'm so sorry for the loss of your beloved grandmother. I lost mine almost 2 years ago--I know how you are feeling. I wish you and your entire family peace. What happy, fond memories you have to reflect on. (((HUGS)))
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Just letting you know I am very sorry about the loss of your grandma. Your memories with her will remain forever in your heart.
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What a beautiful post--your words brought tears to my eyes. I'm so sorry for you and your family. Cherish that teapot for all the memories of Grandma it will bring you forever. My memories of my Grandma are of black olives! She lived far away from us but every year on my birthday in the mail would come a shoebox with 2 cans of black olives (she knew how much I loved them!) So now it makes me smile when I think about those silly black olives. How lucky we are to have those memories aren't we?
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