The call came and mom walked in on my while I was undressing to give me the news. My dad is doing well, though I noticed his hands were uncharacteristically cold and clammy when I hugged him while he was making phone calls last night. I was sad. I cried. But mostly I felt... relieved for her. She's happy with Grandpa, now, and the rest of her family and friends.
There will be no Chicago service for my grandmother. She'd asked to see everyone on Mother's Day, so we all came. Aside from the immediate family, there's no one left who has survived her.
She'll be cremated, then Dad and Karyn will go to Clearwater, Florida, to hold a service in her community there. She and Grandpa had lived there since 1977 or so. In 1994, Grandpa died, and Grandma stayed on. Then in 2004 or 2005, Dad and Karyn moved Grandma back up to Chicago to keep her near. When they take her ashes back to Florida, she'll be interred beside Grandpa.
My beautiful, gentle Grandma, with the blue eyes and pink lips, a love for music and dance, who walked with grace in a scented aura of face powder and perfume, and religiously ate chocolate chip cookies and milk at night before bed.
I love you.
