Granny, i will miss you!
Early monday, before it was morning, my grandmother passed away. She had been in declining health for the last few years, but seemed as if she would overcome everything that was thrown at her and would out live us all despite the odds being stacked against her. She died in her home and it was great that she never had to leave her house or be put in a "home." She was a great woman, a strong woman, a sassy sarcastic woman, a woman not afraid to tell you exactly what she felt regardless if you wanted to hear it, a great mother, a great grandmother, an all around loving giving person that touched more people than i will probably ever know. Today was the funeral and it was a very emotional day for everyone, but relativley easier than the past 2 days. I imagine anyone who came across the motorcade had to have thought it was a very important person as there were 9-12 sheriffs cars that basically shut down i-85 and 285 with rolling road blocks as we made the 20 mile drive from the funeral home to the cemetary downtown. At every light that a sherriff car was blocking, the officer would step out of his car, and cover his heart with his hat, was very touching. A we were leaving the funeral home, while traffic was stopped, a young man got out of his truck and stood with his hat over his heart, on Bolten road a little old man on the side of the road did the same, was really nice. I was really close to her, her favorite as she always said, and she had no problem with saying it in front of the other grandchildern. I even wore a really nice suit and cut my nails for her today, i now she could see me and was proud of the way i looked, because i was the best dressed guy there, even if i won't cut my hair. When i went to buy the suit, the little older sharp dressed black man that was helping me told me after he found out i didn't own a suit, "I am ashamed of you son, every man should own a suit", he made me smile on a very tough day!
A stranger came to the funeral home yesterday and casually walked in. My sister was the first to great her as she rounded the corner. The lady, with 4 of her little boys, said she didn't know any of us, only Ruby, but she had touched her family by reading books to her kids at the library and they would miss her so she wanted to pay her respect. It brought a tear to my already weaping eyes. I guess she made a real mark there as i heard later that the library is naming a room after her... so touched.
Once she told me a story... There was a woman who lived down the street from where she grew up on 14th street that had a talking bird. As she put it she was one of "those women" that wore jeans and such in the 1930-40's when it was not appropriate for women to do so. What she ment was that she was a lesbian... hehe. Anyway, her and her friend use to sit on the stairs under the window the bird cage sat in and taught it nasty words. Well one day the lady was home and heard the girls outside teaching her bird profanity and chased them off and went to find their parents. As she told me the story i could just see a big bull dyke chasing these little girls all the way home, and threating my little great grandmother if she didn't control her girls.
I will miss her... but i know she is in a better place now, and i will see her again. Was even relayed to me that her brother heard a voice monday night that he had never heard before that told him granny was there with thier mom, dad, and sister, and that soon they would be going to visit my granddad and uncles. So even though it will be a sad christmas for us... i am sure it will be the best one she has had in years!
A stranger came to the funeral home yesterday and casually walked in. My sister was the first to great her as she rounded the corner. The lady, with 4 of her little boys, said she didn't know any of us, only Ruby, but she had touched her family by reading books to her kids at the library and they would miss her so she wanted to pay her respect. It brought a tear to my already weaping eyes. I guess she made a real mark there as i heard later that the library is naming a room after her... so touched.
Once she told me a story... There was a woman who lived down the street from where she grew up on 14th street that had a talking bird. As she put it she was one of "those women" that wore jeans and such in the 1930-40's when it was not appropriate for women to do so. What she ment was that she was a lesbian... hehe. Anyway, her and her friend use to sit on the stairs under the window the bird cage sat in and taught it nasty words. Well one day the lady was home and heard the girls outside teaching her bird profanity and chased them off and went to find their parents. As she told me the story i could just see a big bull dyke chasing these little girls all the way home, and threating my little great grandmother if she didn't control her girls.
I will miss her... but i know she is in a better place now, and i will see her again. Was even relayed to me that her brother heard a voice monday night that he had never heard before that told him granny was there with thier mom, dad, and sister, and that soon they would be going to visit my granddad and uncles. So even though it will be a sad christmas for us... i am sure it will be the best one she has had in years!