Saturday, December 13, 2008

Wishing You A Merry Christmas Grandma

Eight years ago my Grandma left this earth to go be with my Grandpa and other family members who had passed on. I remember when I was little my Grandma and mother would teach me how to do all kinds of crafts, like note pads stuck on carpet samples which were cut out into shapes of animals, little winter scenes made in old baby food jars, macrame plant holders and many, many more. She also got me interested in genealogy. I loved hearing the stories about my ancestors and seeing pictures of them. I really miss spending time with her.

When I was little, we lived north of Stevens Point (Wisconsin) so Grandma would come visit when she could. As years went by she started taking the Greyhound bus instead of driving so far. When she came to visit she slept in my room because I had twin beds. One year she came to visit for Christmas. That night she woke me up when she started singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" in her sleep. Each time she sang the chorus she got louder and louder until I think everyone in the house woke up. Apparently earlier that week she had gone caroling with others from her apartment complex and she was dreaming that she was caroling. So whenever I hear that song, I think of her.

The day of the visitation at the funeral home we received a terrible phone call that my brother had been in an accident. I truly believe Grandma was watching over him that day. He has a little hobby farm and was messing with a combine or some other kind of machinery. The machine had stopped or clogged so he went to see what was going on. The next thing he remembers is that he was lying on the ground. He had been wearing Carhartts which he figures the sleeve got caught when it started up and the machine ripped them right off of him. His arm was broke and he was missing some hair, but he was alive. It was truly a miracle that he didn't get killed that day.

After the funeral hubby and I picked up my brother from the hospital. Everyone had gone back to Grandma's apartment and they could choose 2 items of hers that they wanted as a remembrance of her. When we walked in my aunt told me she had something to show me. My Grandma had a locket that she wore but I never knew what was in it. My aunt told me to look inside. I was speechless when I opened it up and here was a picture of me and my Grandpa. (Gee, I kinda look like a boy don't I?) I had never known that she had MY picture in that locket. That was more meaningful than any material thing I could have taken that day.

I wish you a Merry Christmas Grandma. Miss you.

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