Sometimes you hear words that are so discordant, they aren’t easy to process. “Guys, GeeGee has gone to be with PopPop. She’s finally able to meet her Jesus.”. The message to the children was met with, “I really don’t comprehend this.” How very apt. None of us can.
I sat up late. Playing over in my head were her phrases, her lessons, her laugh - that infectious one, that made you laugh with her when something hit her funny bone:
“Oooh, that’ll be nice.” “Veeeery good..uh huh, VERY good.” “Well I’LL say…” “Show me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are.” “Let’s go say our prayers, then.” “Let’s get to church and thank God for the new baby.” “oop, I have to get my washing!” “ISn’t that NICE…” “oooh, Kris, I was just thinking..” “I’ll have a half a cup of coffee, dear..” “we had NOTHING…” “you know, we had EVERYthing.” “oooh, skeezix, I just love ya.” “punkin’” “well, let’s get to work, then..” Those and roughly five thousand others.
I remember them all. Because she was a constant. One of the few constants in life. Right and wrong, what she held dear and knew to be good and true, what she espoused. Her workaday and methodology. Her reliance on Our Lady. Her praise. Her chiding. Her love for all the babies. Faith. Fastidious prayer. Her common sense. Standards. What she expected. What she did for others. Keen propriety. Her thanks to God for it all. She shared it.
We learned. She set a high bar. We benefitted. She loved us fiercely, despite us. Likely one of the best people God ever created. A powerhouse. A legend. And we know her. She LOVES us. What a thing to have her form us, in part. She is ours. We are hers.
When Grandpa left us, I sat with her one day. She said that for her, nothing had changed. He was still present, she loved him dearly and she knew he loved her dearly, and they were not separated. She drew a clear picture for me that the veil is very thin.
When I understood that she had gone, I whispered, “no.”, but an overwhelming peace washed over me, even a joy. The text I got that she was now dancing with Grandpa… How can that be received and your heart not leap with happiness? Every bit of her days was spent in preparation. Didn’t she pass along well that this is what we are born to do..
So now what? What are we supposed to do? Grandmom had to go. What on earth are we supposed to do? Can’t you just hear her, though? I feel a definitive scoff, maybe a bit of a “whaddyamean?”. Because, see, nothing’s changed. Grandpa never left us. She certainly won’t. We had everything, skeezix. Say your prayers. There’s plenty left to do. Let’s get to work, then.
Grandmom and Grandpop...pray for us. You are missed terribly. The two of you have touched the world profoundly. May we always be worthy of your efforts.
