A lifetime

My Gram died this morning. She lived for 96 years... through the Depression, Prohibition, the early death of her mother + an uncaring stepmother (though she adored her father). She was a feisty, rough-and-tumble girl + lady, with more stories than I can possibly remember. One that made an impression involved gambling, illegal hooch, a married man, and an escape from the authorities. Who knows if this story was true, but it does give me hope that my stories will become more interesting with time!

Gram was mother to 2 (my dad + his older sister), a wife, a dentist's assistant, and a Sunday School teacher. She was loved by many generations of church school students for the way she embodied what she believed, teaching side-by-side with my Granddad. The two of them were the foundation of our family. She survived breast cancer + ovarian cancer, and is now survived by 2 children, 7 grandchildren + 9(?) great-grandchildren.

She reminds me of blue skies, tall grass, soft pine forests, streams, hiking, Vermont, good food, coffee, climbing trees, hammocks, raspberries, denim wrap skirts, hair buns, wide grins, loud laughter + knee slaps, iced drinks in the backyard, ice cream, dogs, gardens, good neighbors, Clematis, teddy bears, swing dancing, rose perfume, and love.

She taught me how to write in cursive at the dinner table in a summer house in Vermont.

I was fortunate enough to live with her while I worked at my first job outside Philly, and then visited weekly overnight after I moved. I remember catching up after a day of work + dinner, with mugs of tea at her kitchen table. She made me feel loved, special. Gram certainly wasn't perfect, but she gave me the gift of that understanding as well. What a relief to know that no one is perfect!

She hasn't recognized us for several years, but still enjoyed our visits. Seeing our children has made her light up.

I wish I had a scanner for all the great (non-digital) pictures of her over the years. These - with Leah + her cousin Katie, above, and at her church's Valentine's Day dance 6 years ago, below - will have to do! I love you, Gram. You live on in all of us.