But, things like this happen when life gets in the way, I suppose. . .
It was the end of September I learn of a few passings in my family . . . passings that course were expected, but the sting hit hard nonetheless. Even when you know elderly people in your family are ill and the inevitable is coming, it is still human nature to postpone addressing such concerns.
For me, I've known of my grandmother's diagnosis with Alzheimer's for many years - for a decade, so it seems. Probably out of sheer denial, I chose not to consider or recall how this amazing woman impacted my life until her death.
It's upon death of someone we love we are forced to remember, to feel, and to acknowledge. For me, I associate a significant amount of guilt with that. Call it my Catholic upbringing or whatever you wish; I automatically respond with "And I'll take a side of guilt with that to go please."
It never fails . . . that's exactly I how handle family traumas.
Although I haven't been writing for this blog; I have been writing . . .
Memories of my grandma, specifically to help my family prepare for her eulogy. Within my normal ten minute composure, I was able to come up with a poem about her. It was read over her grave site as they lowered the coffin into the ground.
I suppose that was appropriate . . . it was my grandmother after all who introduced me to poetry and encouraged me to write my own . . .
For Rachel
Morning mist
Little girl
Reading sonnets out loud
In nightfall
There's light
She's copying stanzas down
College books
Collected dust
Discovered by small hands
Pages turn
Ideas form
Thanking Browning and Dickinson
Grandma's books
She smiles
To another generation poet
Sorry to hear about your loss. And agreed -- the passing of loved ones is never easy, whether or not anticipated. Be thankful for the time you had with your grandmother, hold her memory in your heart, and keep living in the present...
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