52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2023: Week 47 (THIS ANCESTOR STAYED HOME)
This week I went home because my 97 year old grandma died.
She was my last tie to my mom who passed away in 2015.
Grandma was a telephone operator for BC Tel.
In 1971 she took a transfer to Nelson, British Columbia.
It was that random decision that made Nelson my hometown.
As we drove away from Nelson, heading home after Gram died, I wondered if I would be back.
My home is a 7 hour drive away. I still have aunts, uncles & cousins who live there, but will that be enough to draw me back?
There are times I forget (or pretend) that my mom & dad are not out there just living their life too busy to call me. When I visit I am forced to realize that they really did die, and I will never receive another phone call.
As I drink my tea on my first morning home, I realize Grandma's random decision resulted in the unique community of Nelson forming parts of who I am today.
What parts of my personality/life would have been entirely different had I not lived in Nelson?
Our family was given a gift.
The last few hours of grandma's life she had her 4 living children & the oldest child of her 2 deceased children at her bedside.
As she took her last breath she looked around the unbroken circle of love before her, said she loved us all, and with a smile on her face left us.
We had each told her how much she meant to us, she told us how much we meant to her, we shared memories of love, there was laughter & tears.
This was the perfect celebration of her life.
We remember ...
These three are back together , we love them with all our hearts 💔
XOXO....
At her bedside we all watched as grandma smoothed her signature beehive hairdo (known in the family as her knot). She wanted to look her best when she met up with her daughters & grandson.
I don't know if Grandma went home, but today is Saturday - I would like to believe Gram & Mom are out garage-saling right now!!!
This is why I search -
Cause ...
You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!
***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***
Photos:
Personal
Links:
Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/
______________________________________________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment