My Grams

Friday, May 29th--Today started out as a great day. I picked Elise up at school, it was her last day so we celebrated by getting out our brand new kiddie pool, filling it up and inviting some of our neighbor friends and their kids to come over and play. We had been outside for over 4 hours enjoying the nice weather. The kids had a blast playing with their friends and I was enjoying the fun chats with my neighbor friends. At 1:30 pm, my sister, Alishia, called. Even before I got the phone I knew why she was calling, it had been expected. My grandma, "Grams", passed away today. Her health has been deteriorating for a couple of years. Her memory slowly fading. In the last couple of months, she was living in a care facility. Just recently she stopped eating and was growing weaker and weaker by the day. The plump Grams I'd always known now skin and bones. The nursing staff changed her care status to "hospice" two weeks ago, meaning her time was short--as sad as it is to say, the new status came as a relief, she's suffered for so long.

After the call and a cry, I asked Nate if I could leave the kids at home, with him, so I could go to Salt Lake alone, he said that was okay (thanks SO much to my neighbor friends for watching the kids continue to play outside so Nate could work a little longer!). I got a call from my brother, Adam, he said he was heading to the care facility to see her one more time. I debated on meeting him there and still wasn't sure I wanted to see her till I got off the exit. I pulled in and went to her room. She lay there so peaceful, again, I felt relief, she wasn't suffering anymore. My brother and I had a good cry, stayed for a little longer then left to be with family that lives in Salt Lake. For the next several hours we talked about memories of Grams and the wonderful and hilarious woman she was. We also talked about all those loved ones who, we believe, greeted her on the other side of the veil. The person we thought of most is her beloved firstborn son, "Tinker", who passed away when he was 2 1/2 years old. We know her heavenly reunion with all her loved ones has been amazing this day. We also know we will miss her very much.
Grams, my memories of you are many and, mostly, wonderful. As a child, I remember coming down to visit, in the summer, and all the wonderful plans you had for us. I remember going to Raging Waters, nightly trips to 7-Eleven for Slurpees, miniature golf, the backyard swimming pool, going for drives, museums, parks and so much more. For Christmas, we couldn't spend it with you but the packages you sent always showed how much you loved and cared for us. I remember when our family was sealed in the Seattle Temple (9/22/90). You drove up just to be able to be with us on that special day. You loved to give massages (hmmm, perhaps, genetic?) and amazed us all with your strength (she could squeeze your hand hard enough to take you to the ground!--even up until the last couple of months!). When I was living in my own apartment and incredibly poor you'd take me grocery shopping with you and surprise me with groceries for my own cupboard and fridge--something that always touched my heart. When I wanted to move back to Utah to be with Nate, you allowed me to move in with you for 6 months while Nate and I became engaged and planned our wedding--without such generosity I wouldn't have had anywhere to go and we may not have been able to get married when we wanted to.
I could go on and on about Grams but, to sum it up, she was a special lady. She endured a lot of heartache and many challenges in her life yet she could tell the best stories, many of which were knee-slappin' funny. She was a poet, I'm blessed so many of us have her book of poems to be read and treasured.
I love you, Grams, I will miss you very much! Your legacy will live on always!

In memory of: Zetta June Keyes Blackburn

(January 25, 1926-May 29, 2009)