A tribute to my Grandmother
Recently my beloved grandmother died, the last of the older generation in my family. It was not unexpected, as she was in her 90s, and yet it was sad to know we’d finally said our last goodbyes.
My grandmother was a touchstone in my life, and she is present in my earliest childhood memories. In my younger years, she represented a vacation to Florida, where I would find a generous soul who could always be counted on to sew me something interesting to wear, or drive me to the beach. However she was more than that of course, a warm lap, close hugs, love.
It was only as I became older that I began to appreciate the person she was beyond just “Grandma”. She was a woman who spent much of her life teaching disabled children. A lover of music, she brought it to her daughter’s lives and thus to her granddaughter’s as well. As a survivor of the depression, a world war, and several other world events, she had a perspective that fascinated me, and whenever I listened to her stories I was amazed I’d never asked her about her life before. She straddled a life where cars were a rarity and she would carry water from a well, to this modern age where life without running water and air travel seems unreal. She had also endured tragedy, including the death of her only brother, her only son, and her only husband.
Grandma was a spiritual woman, who wasn’t afraid to ask questions about life. We would talk together about religion, about what is the best way to live our lives. I often reminded her of how many wonderful things she had done in her life, beautiful acts of generosity and caring, that had touched many many people’s lives.
Now that this lovely lady has moved on, I hope you will all join me in wishing her well on her next journey, whether you believe it is to heaven, to another rebirth, or even just back to the earth. Let’s all recognize this wonderful person who has passed away and give her a wish of lovingkindness, that whatever journeys lie ahead of her will go well, and that she will find peace of mind and heart.
One of the Buddhist traditions upon a person’s death is to do good actions, and dedicate the merit from those actions to that person, thus helping them with their next rebirth. May we all find such a way to honor our loved ones, with unselfish actions that can benefit ourselves, our loved one, and the world.
3 comments:
Dear Meghan,
You wrote a very beautiful tribute to your Grandmother! The picture is great and shows your grandmother as I remember her: alert, sharp, talkative, energetic, honest. These qualities were very apparent for the VAST !!! majority of her life. That is how I will remember her, and the way that she would like to be remembered.
She was part of a generation that had to struggle to survive in a world very different from today.
I wish her well!! Love, Beth
Meghan: What a wonderful tribute to a very special lady. You had a unique place in both of your Grandma's hearts - Mother loved you dearly and delighted in the many hours you spent together in VA. In her later years she always talked about those times - you were such a bright light in her days; I will always be grateful for the joy you brought into her life as, I'm sure, you did in your other Grandma's. With love and gratitude, Ellen
There is no doubt I loved both my grandmothers. It's nice that even though my grandmother on my father's side has been gone for a while, I still remember her, and those lovely times we had together in VA as well,. As long as I live I hope I'll always remember that special time. Thank you for your good wishes.
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