More on a passing....
I realized I didn't give much of a eulogy earlier - I was pretty numb most of the day from the death. Not that it was a surprise mind you.
Florence Mallory was my honorary grandmother (Gram). At a time in my life after my parents withdrew financial assistance for college, and I was unable to secure financing of my own, I had only home to go to. (Or so my parents thought). I had gone to visit Shan's family in Pontiac, MI one time the previous semester, and upon realizing I had either the prison my parents' would have given me, or a chance to get completely away if I had the balls to call and *ask*, I mustered all the courage an inexperienced 19yo can have and made the call.
She, her husband, and Shan's mom conferred, and agreed that I could stay with them.
At the time I was a wild, irresponsible, amoral, crazy child. I had no experience with the real world aside from a farm town and a small yuppie college. Neither prepared me for the reality of city life.
The fallout from my family was unreal. My MOTHER continually called demanding that I come home. They never made me talk to her. About a month into my stay, my mother called telling them that I was a drug abuser, and that I would rob them blind to keep my drugs. (This particular gem was created by my brother, and swallowed by my mom hook line and sinker. Ah, love is in the air.)
Florence told her off. Told her that I had never left the house without one of them, and had never shown any signs of withdrawal, and if my own family honestly believed that of me, then they understood why I was there and not with my parents. I don't believe mom ever called there again.
Florence met me at my absolute worst, and believed in me. I don't know where I would be today without that faith she had in me. She was just the right person at just the right time in my life to bring me back from the brink of where my life was headed. I am a good person today because of her. (Or at least, even though my thoughts are evil, my deeds are not. I owe that to her.)
Thank you, Gram, for believing in me when I couldn't believe in myself. I will miss you more than I can express, and will do my best to repay your kindness to me as often as I'm able. What is the price of a life saved? I can't calculate it.
Florence Mallory was my honorary grandmother (Gram). At a time in my life after my parents withdrew financial assistance for college, and I was unable to secure financing of my own, I had only home to go to. (Or so my parents thought). I had gone to visit Shan's family in Pontiac, MI one time the previous semester, and upon realizing I had either the prison my parents' would have given me, or a chance to get completely away if I had the balls to call and *ask*, I mustered all the courage an inexperienced 19yo can have and made the call.
She, her husband, and Shan's mom conferred, and agreed that I could stay with them.
At the time I was a wild, irresponsible, amoral, crazy child. I had no experience with the real world aside from a farm town and a small yuppie college. Neither prepared me for the reality of city life.
The fallout from my family was unreal. My MOTHER continually called demanding that I come home. They never made me talk to her. About a month into my stay, my mother called telling them that I was a drug abuser, and that I would rob them blind to keep my drugs. (This particular gem was created by my brother, and swallowed by my mom hook line and sinker. Ah, love is in the air.)
Florence told her off. Told her that I had never left the house without one of them, and had never shown any signs of withdrawal, and if my own family honestly believed that of me, then they understood why I was there and not with my parents. I don't believe mom ever called there again.
Florence met me at my absolute worst, and believed in me. I don't know where I would be today without that faith she had in me. She was just the right person at just the right time in my life to bring me back from the brink of where my life was headed. I am a good person today because of her. (Or at least, even though my thoughts are evil, my deeds are not. I owe that to her.)
Thank you, Gram, for believing in me when I couldn't believe in myself. I will miss you more than I can express, and will do my best to repay your kindness to me as often as I'm able. What is the price of a life saved? I can't calculate it.