Dear Grandma

These are my words I read on Saturday, at Grandma’s service. I miss her so much. Not having Grandma and Grandpa here makes me feel lost. I told Bea it’s not like I lost my parents, but I lost something more than “just” grandparents. She said I lost a secure base, the people who have been my safe place since childhood. Some children run to their moms or dads. I ran to grandma or grandpa. I’m so lost right now. 

Dear Grandma,

I wanted to write the best eulogy ever for you. I wanted to make sure that everyone at your funeral knew what an amazing person you were. But every time I tried to write, the memories got in my way. And then I realized if those people are at your memorial, then they knew you and they all know how much goodness and light you had within you. 

The essence of a person is in the details. These days, that’s where I find your memory lives, too. In the morning, when I’m mixing eggs for breakfast, I remember your smile and patience as I “helped” you to make breakfast. I can picture you and Grandpa sitting at the table, listening intently to whatever I had to say. If someone had something they wanted to share with you, you always took the time to listen. When you turned your attention to someone, you made them feel as if they were the only thing that mattered in the world at that moment. 

The other day Kat (my daughter) needed a skirt for her outfit, so we got out your sewing machine. Working with her on that skirt, I could so clearly feel the love and care you showed to twelve year old me as we made a skirt for one of my dolls. You somehow saw past the mistakes and deemed it beautiful. In fact, you called it perfect. I don’t know how you did it, but you always saw the beauty in everything and everyone. It’s a rare gift to see the world like that, and everyone who knew you is blessed to have had you in our lives to show us the beauty that exists in all things. 

Growing up, I thought all my cousins– from both sides of the family– belonged to you. That’s how you were: if a person was important to someone you cared about, then they were family and that was that. When I introduced my then-boyfriend, now-husband to you, he called you ma’am. You laughed and shook your head, saying, “It’s Ginny or Grandma. You’re family now.” That was always your way. 

You taught me that family is more than blood, that family can be the people we choose to love and bring into our lives. You were a living example– for every member of the family you created– that love is what matters most. I know that we will all do our best to honor your memory and the life you lived by living in the moment, laughing often, loving one another, showing kindness wherever we can, and finding the joy in all things. 

The world feels emptier without you here. You’ve left a hole in our corner of the universe, and it’s not one that will be easily– if ever–filled. I’m trying to be brave, and to be thankful for all the time we did have because I can clearly hear your voice. “Pumpkin (pun-kin), it’s okay. Don’t waste your life being sad. Don’t you be a ding bat. I am okay.” And I can picture you, asking to see that water turned into wine trick, and enjoying a glass of dry red. I love you Grandma. Thank you for always showing up for us and for being proud of your family. We will never forget you. 

All my love, 

Alice