Yesterday at 2:15 my grandma joined the angels in heaven. It doesn’t seem real.
I had gone and vi
sited her again last Saturday and we talked over doughnuts; I told her stories of students in my classroom and she explained how much water Begonia flowers needed. Her bright, blue eyes still had so much life. They had too many stories to still tell.
When it had been time to go, she gave me a hug, kissed me on the cheek, and had said, “love you.” My grandma always gave hugs, but she was a lot like my mom growing up, never showed a ton of affection, even though her love was so deep for us. She would stuff homemade rolls in bags, and force us to take multiple baked goods home, along with embroidered kitchen hand towels that would say, “you’re as cool as a cucumber.”
When she told me she loved me and kissed me on the cheek, I think she knew her time for heaven was approaching.
It is a moment I will never forget.
I know how lucky I am. Most people don’t get to say their goodbyes and spend time with loved ones before they die. Those last moments with her I’m trying to hold on to; those moments will get me through the pain I’m feeling in my heart.