Heaven
I'm so lucky. I knew two of my GREAT grandparents very closely. My great grandpa, Ivan was one of those classic grandpas that slips you cookies right before dinner when no one is looking and lets you sit on his lap till you fall asleep. He was so funny I remember him vividly sitting in his recliner in the front room watching TV and hollering for my great grandma, "God-damn-it Darlene where is the remote?!" she would come runnin' from the sewing room and it would be right beside him on his coffee table. He past away about seven years ago.
My great grandma, Darlene never emptied his side of the closet out or got rid of any of his belongings. They were together for over 50 years! She started sleeping on his side of the bed...she has missed him so badly it hurts me. Darlene has fought cancer for the last 14 years. She never lost her hair and at 85 she has no grey hair and she has never dyed it, I always have found that amazing. She is so incredible! She always had hot fresh homemade cinnamon rolls, cookies, and apple pies when ever I was at her house. She is an amazing seamstress, she has made everyone one of her children and childrens children intricate, beautiful quilts. I was fortunate to have gotten two which I treasure with all my heart. I love flowers so one has a bunch of wild flowers sown on it from Montana, which she hand stitched with silk thread. She said it was the most difficult pattern ever. I sent her all my running shirts from when I use to race and she cut the logos out and made an original quilt just for me.
she hand stitched that!
I don't know how to put in words how wonderful it has been to have know my great grandma. I love her! Today she told the doctors and family that she didnt want them to force feed her or do anything more to keep her alive. She can't eat, she won't eat. She doesn't want to get up anymore. Cancer has taken all the life from her. We are waiting, waiting for her to slip away...leave us. I hate that she is leaving us but I know that she is in pain and tired of fighting and ready to be with Ivan again. I am going to miss her.
For I am the lucky one, I had two phenomenal great grandparents.
Love, Lehnora