Gammy and Barbara
I went to visit my grandma this past Sunday. My family recently had to make the tough decision to move her from her house into the Masonic Home in Louisville. She has dementia, which we think was brought on by her TIA's, or ministrokes. She has had quite a few in recent years. She is able to go the Masonic Home to stay because my grandpa, Daddy B, is a Master Mason. She is in a locked ward known there as Paradise Island.
This was harder on me than I think I realized it was going to be. I am so used to her being vibrant and active and she hasn't been for awhile. What got me at first was her hair...it was straight, and I have never known her to have straight hair. But she can't perm it anymore. She was very thin, which is to be expected I guess. She knew who I was, which I was thankful for, but I"m not sure if she did the entire time I was there with my dad or not. She thought I was a lot younger, I think, because she kept asking me about my grades and didn't seem to understand that I was no longer in school. But she told me I would be a good person, and when I kissed her goodbye she said she loved me to pieces. She always says this. That was hard too. I think Erica and I may try to see her again in a couple weeks. I dont' like to talk about it and it's hard to write about, but when she is no longer here it may help one day to read about.
That same morning, Anthony took me to the cemetery and showed me where his mom's ashes were laid. I am glad he did this; I am thankful he shared it with me. He is going with his family at the beginning of December to spread some of her ashes in Graceland. Elvis was her favorite. He says she probably wishes they could put some in his Jungle Room...we got a good laugh out of that one, and he is sure she did, too.
This was harder on me than I think I realized it was going to be. I am so used to her being vibrant and active and she hasn't been for awhile. What got me at first was her hair...it was straight, and I have never known her to have straight hair. But she can't perm it anymore. She was very thin, which is to be expected I guess. She knew who I was, which I was thankful for, but I"m not sure if she did the entire time I was there with my dad or not. She thought I was a lot younger, I think, because she kept asking me about my grades and didn't seem to understand that I was no longer in school. But she told me I would be a good person, and when I kissed her goodbye she said she loved me to pieces. She always says this. That was hard too. I think Erica and I may try to see her again in a couple weeks. I dont' like to talk about it and it's hard to write about, but when she is no longer here it may help one day to read about.
That same morning, Anthony took me to the cemetery and showed me where his mom's ashes were laid. I am glad he did this; I am thankful he shared it with me. He is going with his family at the beginning of December to spread some of her ashes in Graceland. Elvis was her favorite. He says she probably wishes they could put some in his Jungle Room...we got a good laugh out of that one, and he is sure she did, too.