Tribute to my Grandmother

Last Monday morning I received news my maternal grandmother passed away.  Anne LaVerne Crain was 90 years of age.  Over the course of the week I've been able to process the news in a healthy manner.  In recent years she was a mere shell of the strong person I remember.  She was plagued by a form of dementia and a frail body due to age.  These aren't the things I dwell on, but rather the memory of the good times of when she was the matriarch of the family.  My father's family passed away while I was at a young age, so my maternal grandparents, especially my grandmother, is all the familial experience I have.  She was such a peacemaker in the family, my staunch ally imparting much needed wisdom whether or not I asked for it, but always providing it at just the right time.  At the time of her passing, the first thought was of her standing before a Holy God, a very loving Heavenly Father.  She is now unbounded by her physical body, clothed with a new spiritual body, praising and worshiping God for all eternity.  I can only envy her, envisioning how she is now able to perform anything and everything even better than anyone can in this temporal realm.  Her husband preceded her in death in January of 2010.  They were married for 69 years.  Wow!  I know she is now reunited with the love of her life in the fellowship of God forever.  Thankfully I was able to visit with her for one last time this past August.  She had been living in a memory-care facility in Kerrville, Texas.  At the time of our visit she must have been having a good day with a time of clarity as she was able to recognize me.  We visited, unbeknownst to me, for the last time.  Every week, usually on Friday or Saturday, I would faithfully write (type) and mail a letter to her.  I hope and pray this developed a bond of love between the two of us which will transition in to the next world.  Unfortunately the last letter never made it to her before her passing.  This Friday (tomorrow), I will write one last letter to her celebrating the life and memory of my dear grandmother.  Grandma, I love you!  I wish I could have expressed it in a more real way, but you were very much a part of my life.  You invested so much in to who I am.  It is because of this I am the person I am today.  Your memory lives on through me.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Nightmare is Over

A little over a week ago, I finished working at Ole Grapevine Cigar & Tobacco Shop for a second tour of duty.  Once again, I found this particular place of employment extremely toxic and dysfunctional.  With the exception of one other staff member, the crew at the shop were too chummy with one another in very unhealthy ways.  Similar to the first experience, I was micro-managed and isolated from feeling a part of the "family", as the manager liked to call the company.  I never felt included...only taken advantage of and then made to feel inferior and worthless.  The customer base wasn't too much better than the work environment.  In some ways, the customers were worse...a bunch of entitled, rich people who wanted their way while everyone else be damned.  Spoiled-rotten brats!  The manager summarily decided, without even consulting me, that I would be moved to an "on call" position.  Since I'm not naive, I realize this means I'll never wor...
Read more

Seeking Closure!

Last week I was able to get away from the land of exile in order to visit and spend time with family.  Even though part of our plans for a trip to East Texas fell apart, I very much enjoyed spending three wonderful days with my mother in Yoakum.  During this time, as she still had to work her shifts at the church, I was able to scratch off quite a few items from the bucket list.  Many of these items have been on there for several years awaiting much-needed closure.  On top of the list, but really in no particular order, was to visit the Alchoholics Anonymous group in Victoria where I tried to get sober in 2004.  Even though I didn't recognize anyone in attendance, I did enjoy the time spent in fellowship.  Then a visit was made to Memory Gardens Cemetery where three acquaintances are interred.  One in particular, my friend Amy, was buried there in 2021.  Regretting not being able to attend her funeral services, I made every effort to locate her gr...
Read more

New Beginnings!

Today I began working a secondary form employment with Cartan's.  It is a shoe store selling men's and women's footwear located on Magnolia in the Near Southside of Fort Worth.  Ever since I moved here I have tried to get hired on with this place of business.  I formerly worked for the owner at the Rockport Shops in Houston.  Figured I was a "shoe" in with the amount of experience yours truly offered.  Finally, I was hired on and began by working from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  I dove right in and tried my best.  Slowly but surely, all of my skills and abilities will come back.  The manager seemed pleased and thought I really didn't need much help.  I shadowed him and a few other employees while they waited on customers.  In addition, I helped to put away drags, which are leftover shoes from the sale.  The store hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed on Sunday.  Woohoo!  Think I have found my home....
Read more