news from Andrea... sorry it's been so long.

Well this has been a day...
from hell. My mom called at 8 this morning to tell me Grammy wasn't doing well. She did say she would update me, but at my break at 11:30 I called her to see how Grammy was doing, only to be told that my great uncle Brad had a heart attack and died after having an angiogram yesterday. Rob came to get me, and we went to say our goodbyes. Very sad, as I really had not had the chance to see him too much since we got back from our honeymoon....After that, we went to the nursing home to break the news to Bumpa, my grandfather, Brad's brother. He took it well, all things considered. After that, we went up to see Grammy and see how she was doing. We stayed for about an hour, while she slept. She was on oxygen and was very congested, but seemed comfortable. We didn't wake her, as rest was so very important with everything else her 93 year old body is challenged with. Rob and I took Mom out to dinner, as my dad is at a work conference in CA, my uncle (mom's brother) is on vacation in TX, and aunt Cindy (dad's sister) was in Maine. We enjoyed a nice dinner, Mom got a margarita, and said she was going back to the nursing home. While talking to Eddie telling him about uncle Brad, my mom beeped in and said that Grammy had just died. To say I am in shock is putting it mildly. We all feel like we're in a bad episode of the Twlight Zone. To lose two members of my family in one day is surreal... but they are both at peace... so I am trying to focus on that. Lots of irony... the same funeral home is taking care of both my uncle and my grandmother... but on different days. Having to call family and break this news was very hard, of course. I am, however, glad that my cousins heard it from me. When I called in to work to tell them about my bereavement time needed, they were very nice, expressing sympathy for my uncle's passing. When I told them about Grammy dying this evening...there was stunned silence... "wait a minute... what?" was pretty much the reaction I had all day. We are currently working on getting Dad back from CA... and trying to get in touch with my uncle in TX. Thank God for Rob.. he hs been so wonderful and such a pillar of support, even though he is in as much shock as I, and mom, both are. So I am going to have one more large glass of wine, and go to bed. That's all the news from here. Please God, let that be all the news. I'm up to the brim with shocking news.

I went on to write this eulogy for my grandmother...

Once upon a time there was a beautiful redhead with grey eyes as deep as the ocean. She grew up into a lovely young lady, and made wonderful memories, like Christmas trees that Santa would bring on Christmas Eve, with real candles, and hand carved figurines sliding around a snow slope that circled the tree. She thought she could fly, in those early days, roller skating down steep hills with her braids streaming behind her. She was surrounded by her parents and her siblings, tall hearty boys who watched over her and a beautiful sister with whom she would go to dances.

And one day, as many girls have done over the centuries, the princess met a prince. He was a tall, handsome Irish man with salt and pepper hair who worked in the shipyards. One can only imagine that he took one look in those gray eyes and his heart was lost. Now while the details of that meeting are vague, one thing is for sure, that theirs was a love for the ages. Pictures were taken of this couple, he resplendent in a tuxedo, she his glamorous counterpart in a flowing ball gown. We know that he courted her with flowers, and cards, and soon thereafter asked her to be his bride. He waded through waist deep snow to attend their engagement party, which set the stage for how their life together would be. It didnt matter what obstacles were put in his way, if she was at the end of that obstacle, he would brave whatever it took to get to her. She was accepted into his life and into his family, gaining yet another sister. On a hot July day, the gray eyed woman became his wife, standing before him in a flowing white satin dress, with all their families there around them.

And so their fairytale continued as they ascended to the roles of king and queen. In time, there was a son, followed by a daughter. They built a house together, and their family grew to include many friends and neighbors. All were welcome in this kingdom they created. There were celebrations, and holidays, with the house brimming over with laughter and love, and delicious food and drink always in abundance. This gray eyed beauty was, some felt, somewhat of a conjurer, and the holidays were when she was at the top of her craft. Summoning her magic powers, she created elixirs of Delmonicos. She weaved stories around tea sets, and set her teak tables with square plates to pass on her magical meals and desserts. In the summer, there was always a yard full of people, drawn to the life force of both of these people. The son and daughter grew up basked in their love and tender care. Soon, the king and queen were not just parents, but elevated to the true throne of being grandparents. And thats when their magicalpowers reached a true zenith. In due time, their kingdom surrounded them grandchildren who knew, quite early, that this was a magical place full of the riches that only a king and queen could have. Jewels of M&Ms waited in corners of this palace they created. Wood carvings of ships set sail to nursery tales full of magical voices. Idyllic days passed, as their yard became even more of a place of dreams, where time did not matter for these grandchildren of the king and queen.

As time went by, a fire red sunset appeared on the horizon, and the king grew ill. The queen was bereft, for she felt that the kingdom truly could not sustain its magic without both of their powers. And so, the king left his kingdom one day, and separated from his bride, his wife, his queen. The queen, in her most regal act thus far, maintained the illusion of harmony in the kingdom, but her heart was with her king. She always smiled bravely and remained lovely and kind, especially when the doting grandchildren came to her kingdom, bringing new subjects before the throne for her blessings. She blessed the new arrivals, and they all felt a special part of the kingdom that she and the king had created. Two of the doting grandchildren brought her great-grandchildren. On watching her hold these precious babies, one could easily understand how a great artist would be so moved as to create apriceless work of art, or a composer to create a symphony. Watching her with all these children young and old, there was the belief that anyone could have the kingdom she and the king had created.

The queen grew older, but never lost the sparkle in her eyes, even when she decided to leave the kingdom for a smaller palace. She surrounded herself with the memories of that glorious castle and was contented with smaller, but no less fine, luxurious treats. The kingdoms finest athletes competed for her and she shared in the glory of their victory, celebrating their triumph with red strawberries to accompany their red socks and apparel. Many fine caring staff were called to her side to minister to her, to keep her well. They were accepted with gentle caresses, as if they were her own family. They were given the gift of her magical elixir butterscotches, and more importantly, her love and laughter.

She stayed in her earthly kingdom as long as she felt she must stay, but could be seen to have a faraway look in her eyes in her last days, which many of her subjects felt must be her king calling her. And one day, he did just that, calling her back to the kingdom they created together. Who could deny her accepting the love that the great king had for his only queen? What a celebration on that day, where her king met her with open arms for the dance he had waited so patiently to have with her. And dance they did, and remain doing to this day. In the great sadness forthose who she left behind, all knew that a true kingdom, while a fairytale to many, does happen in ones hearts and minds, to those who truly believe in magic.