Grandma (1915-2016)

I can't remember if I posted on here or not about my Grandma.  Anyway, my mom's mom died last month.  She was 101!  She lived in South Dakota until just about a year ago, and then my mom and my aunt converged on Grandma's house (with some reinforcements) and basically informed my Grandma that she could no longer live in South Dakota by herself and she was, in fact, coming with them to upstate New York where she'd live with my aunt.  

For once, my Grandma didn't argue.

Anyway, I don't think anyone thought she'd live nearly a whole year longer, but that's what she did.  Her body just gave out and she died peacefully in her sleep on the morning of September 8th.  (Why does everyone shy away from the word "died"?  She died.  That's all.)

It was a Thursday.  I had just finished teaching a Zumba class.  Mara was a preschool.  I was just signing out at the gym when my phone rang.  I saw it was my mom and I just knew.  She asked me if I had time to meet to get a coffee.  I said, "Did Aunt Ruth call you?"  She hesitated, then said, "Grandma died this morning."  "Okay," was all I said.  Because what else could I say?

My mom asked me to speak at my Grandma's memorial.  We didn't have a date planned, of course, because we didn't know when she would die.  Naturally, I agreed.  I felt honored that she had asked me, especially since she said nobody else would be asked to speak.  She said she thought I'd be a good candidate for that.  And, not to sound braggy or boastful, I believe she's right.  I'm not an overly emotional person, at least not in that sense.  I didn't cry when she told me Grandma died.  I knew it was coming so I felt somewhat ready for it.

My Grandma's memorial was held on October 2, 2016, in Vermillion, South Dakota, where Grandma lived up until she went to New York.  It was very odd being back in Vermillion, knowing that my Grandma was not there.  At least, not in the form I was used to seeing her in!  Her urn was there but... that's not the same, somehow.  I spent several weeks each summer in Vermillion over the years.  It was strange to know that this would likely be my last trip (unless I go back to help my mom with the house arrangements at a later date.)

I do have pics from the trip, mainly of Mara being cute in South Dakota, but my phone and computer aren't communicating right now, so I can't upload the photos easily.  I'll have to put them in later.

Photobooth

Well hello there, Blogisphere.  Long time, no see.

Let's just get into it, shall we?

The other day I was playing with the Photo Booth app on my computer and Mara came and crawled into my lap, asking to "see pictures."  So we took a bunch of photos.  Add a black and white filter and they look quite artistic if I do say so myself!  Here they are.