When my paternal grandmother turned 90, six years ago, the kids and I all travelled out for a surprise party. Unfortunately my sweet husband was unable to travel with us, but we had a great trip as it was. We were able to see all my grandparents, my husbands grandparents, many aunts, uncles, and cousins. It was truly a trip to remember. Since then I had not been able to make it back out for a visit. Six years is a LONG time!
This past week I was able to make the long awaited trip back to Idaho to see my grandparents! I was elated that it all fell into place to make it happen. I wish the kids could have gone with me, as do they, but it just was not in the budget. Of course after I got my plane ticket there was a snow storm that postponed the kids Destination Imagination tournament. It got rescheduled for, you guessed it, the weekend that I would be out of town. My sweet husband took care of everything though! So I packed my bags and off to the airport I went. Thanks to my mom who drove me to the airport then watched the three youngest kids until Archer got out of school!
Visiting my paternal grandmother was hard. She is in a mental care wing of an assisted living community. She has dementia. I do not know if she truly understood who I was or really realized that I was there, but I know that I was. She is still my beautiful grandmother. Her smile lit up the room. When she first saw me, I think she knew for a moment who I was. Her face lit up and she smiled so big. She struggled to sit up in her chair. By the time we were able to have her moved to a table to visit the recognition was gone. There were a couple times where she would look at me, smile, and grab my hand. She would squeeze it so tight and would hold on. Then it would pass and the moment was gone. When she was younger she was a hair dresser and she loved my hair. My hair is really long, down past my waist. Every now and then she would reach over and grab my hair. She would hold onto it and run it through her hand while smiling. It may seem like a small thing, but it is a memory I will treasure. My grandmother may not be able to remember now, but I truly believe that she will have those memories back someday when she has left this life. In the meantime, I remember. I will share those memories with my kids. I will treasure those memories. I am so thankful that we had this time together. It was hard, but it was more than worth it!
My maternal grandparents live just under two hours away from my paternal grandmother, so I took a drive to see them. They still live in the same home that they have since I was a child. As I drove those familiar streets I was anxious to see them again. I truly had been too long since I was last out to visit. As I walked up to the door I did not even have a chance to ring the bell as the door swung open to reveal my grandfather with a huge smile on his face. My maternal grandparents have some vision issues and my grandfather is not in the greatest health, but they still remember. I loved being able to sit and talk with them. More than that, listening to them talk to each other. Their conversation was varied and random, but it was so much fun! I truly think they are happier together now then ever before. My grandpa smiles and laughs more. My grandma leans in for a hug more. They tease each other. It is a beautiful relationship. I was able to spend the night at their house and have breakfast with them before I had to leave for the airport. It was bitter sweet having breakfast with them as I knew that I would soon have to leave, our visit was coming to an end. After hugs and kisses I went to the car. As I drove away my grandma was standing in the doorway watching me leave. It made me want to cry, as I do not know when I will be able to see her again. I hope it will be in this lifetime. On my trip I was also able to see my dad and step-mom, all three of my aunts, and a few of my cousins. It was wonderful to see them all! They are good people and I love them all dearly. My aunt let me stay at her home and it was a lot of fun to have the extra time to talk together.
My grandparents mean the world to me. I feel blessed to still have them in my life as so many of my friends no longer have any of their grandparents still living. I am thankful for all the things my grandparents taught me and the little ways they have effected my life. My paternal grandmother always carried Trident gum. To this day it is the only type of gum I will buy. My maternal grandfather always has a puzzle book next to his chair. I keep a puzzle book in my vehicle to work on while waiting for kids at school pickup. My maternal grandmother always remembers all our family members names, even now she can name all 57 of them down to the newest great-great grandchild. I do my best to remember not just all the nieces and nephews names, but also their birthdays. I know how loved it made me feel when my grandma remembered mine.I love my grandparents, more than words can say.
