Missing Grandma H.

This entry will be more on the serious side, but I want to pay homage to my wonderful Grandma H. (that's what we called her), who passed away a few days ago at the age of 97. The funeral is taking place this Tuesday in Massachusetts, where she lived her whole life. Unfortunately, I have chemo on Monday and I won't be able to make it to the service. I racked my brain to figure out how I might possibly get out there in time, but the flight options were horrible. On top of that, I've been feeling pretty darn tired lately, and considering all the germs that I might be exposed to on a crowded airplane, I realized I just couldn't do it. Chemo has interfered with another important event in my life...

There were so many wonderful, special things about my Grandma. For one thing, she was a super talented professional artist. She took painting up seriously after her seven children(!) were grown, and she continued to paint and show her paintings well into her eighties. She inspired me to take up painting, too, and maybe one day I'll be half as good as she was.

I also credit Grandma H. for my serious sweet tooth. Every time we came to visit her there would be a plethora of delicious cinnamon rolls, cakes, and pies laid out. I loved it, even if my waistline did not. When her children or grandchildren would visit, there would always be a small trinket at their place setting, often a lottery scratch ticket. And then there were the sometimes odd but always thoughtful presents she would collect throughout the year to send to her children and grandchildren for Christmas. My family always looked forward to her packages!


Grandma H. also played the piano beautifully. I remember sleeping over when I was young and falling asleep to the sounds of her playing classical music downstairs. She was also very passionate about the Red Sox, and would watch every game on TV or listen on the radio. Sometimes she would yell out loud and shake her fists at the players if they made a mistake, or cheer if someone made a good play. I just loved watching her carry on.


And then there was infamous dollhouse at Grandma H's that I played with for hours when I was a kid. It was a VERY large, handmade Victorian-style dollhouse, painted yellow with white trim. The house was filled with ornate miniature furnishings, all modeled after the Victorian period. I thought it was the coolest dollhouse ever! I wonder whatever happened to it...


I was blessed to have had such a wonderful grandma for so much of my life and I will miss her dearly. She was very generous, loving, and passionate about life. She loved to crack jokes and above all she loved to laugh! I saw her often as an adult. I went to college nearby and then later on returned to live nearby with my hubbie and so I was able to see her often and I'm so glad I did.


Grandma, you're the best! I will miss you so much but I'm glad you are no longer suffering. Keep on laughing, and give Grandpa a big hug for me.

Grandma H. painting given to me many years ago. Same with the one below.