Sunday, November 28, 2010

Weekend Mishmash: Gratitude for Grandparents

As usual, I find myself stretched a bit too thin to post here on a regular basis, and as I've expressed before, I really miss the time I used to spend surfing the blogosphere. But, despite my myriad duties and projects as of late, I know I'd be remiss if I allowed Thanksgiving week to pass me by without expressing my heartfelt gratitude for my friends and loved ones, including my blogging pals.

Lately, though, I've felt most grateful for my four grandparents – all of whom were a huge part of my life, especially during my childhood. Although they're never far from my mind, they've been even more present in my thoughts this year. Perhaps that's because I lost the last two – my paternal grandfather and my maternal grandmother – within the last six months. My grandpa (pictured here with my dad and stepmom), whom I called Paw-Paw Al as a child, passed away in mid-June, just a few days before Father's Day, while my grandma, otherwise known as Maw-Maw Deanne, died less than two weeks ago, just 10 days following her 88th birthday.

While I love and miss each of them greatly, losing Deanne (pictured here with me and my mom) was perhaps the hardest blow – and not just because she was the last to go. She was also, if truth be told, my favorite. Her house – which was lost in Hurricane Katrina – always felt like home to me. While growing up, I spent countless hours with her, reading books, watching our favorite shows, eating our favorite treats, singing our favorite songs. We were so close that we even had a shared tune – “You Are My Sunshine” – which, appropriately enough, was written by former Louisiana governor Jimmie Davis.

Of course, I could easily fill a hundred posts with all the adventures I had with my grandparents as a child. But, for now, I'll just say that, while losing each of them has been devastating to me – especially given my atheistic belief that I'll never see them again – I realize how fortunate I am to have known, loved, and been loved by them. And, though their absence saddens me and sharply reminds me of my own mortality, I'm grateful that they were such an important part of my life – and I know without a doubt that they'll always be a part of me.

8 comments:

Becky said...

(((hugs)))

Laura Martone said...

Thanks, Becky! Hugs to you, too!

Susan R. Mills said...

Great post! I miss and love all of my grandparents too.

Laura Martone said...

Thanks, Susan! It's good to know that I'm not alone in this (and it's nice to see your sweet face again).

Marguerite said...

So sorry for your losses, Laura. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs, Marguerite

Laura Martone said...

Thanks, Marguerite. I know we all go through it, losing people we love, but it's never easy, is it?

R.R.Jones said...

Oh man, what a great post Laura; probably your best.
I really felt a connection with you on this one.

Mine have all passed away as well and I still miss them. When I go back to visit Wales I always drive by their old homes, the ones they were in as I was a growing boy, (not the care homes they lived in at the end) and I still see myself running through the gardens, playing in the garage, looking out of the bedroom I always used when I slept there.
Thanks for this Laura, a lovely post. xx
ps. I'm quite misty eyed now, hope the kids don't notice!

Laura Martone said...

I'm glad this post meant something to you, R.R. I guess, in all honesty, these topics - childhood, grandparents, death, grief - resonate with all of us, to some degree. I long to do what you do whenever you return to Wales, but alas, Hurricane Katrina took away my grandmother's home, so seeing it in person makes it too painful to "see" my childhood self there. But those memories still "live" within me - and I return to them whenever they're needed, especially lately.

P.S. If the kids notice your misty eyes, all's the better! As a child, I always felt a little closer to my dad when he cried. Of course, I was never happy to see him in pain, but it did give us a moment to connect... and sometimes even talk about the "important" things in life. Then again, grief and reminiscence are often private entities - and sometimes best left in our secret places...