Love to Anna

A couple of days ago, we got the call that Husband's grandmother passed away at age 95. It was not unexpected but it's sad that I'll never get to see her throw her hands up in the air and laugh again.

I met her 15 years ago, right at the time Husband and I were engaged. We spent an afternoon talking while Husband and his dad were involved with something at the DMV, and she told me about how she was born very premature, and how her parents kept her in a match box in the oven and fed her gruel to keep her alive. She also recalled that Husband's dad was born with a tooth and said that when she was pregnant she felt so great she wanted to be up chopping wood. She had great stories about the interesting people that comprised Husband's family. She wasn't one to mince words, and when she paid a compliment, you knew it was absolutely sincere. (A few years ago--probably before their cousin Dave had kids--she told someone that Husband and his twin brother were the best fathers in the world, which of course I have to agree with). She was a very strong woman, and she raised her children to be hard working, good, and happy. She was a remarkable, fabulous woman, and I thought enough of her to give her name to one of daughters.

Her last years were diminished, just as with many in my family. Everytime I saw her (maybe once or twice a year) she seemed a little bit less of her self. She would sit around quiet, almost like she wasn't there. I hate what old age does to people, how it robs them of themselves. But I believe she is now in full command of her mind and chatting it up with many of her loved ones who went before her.

Say Hi to Twila--I'm sure the two of you would like to talk about how great Husband is:)