Evendays

I’m writing today about my Grandma T. My dad’s mom died on Saturday morning at about 6:30. She was 94.

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

Grandma T. nurtured a culture of belief that continues in her children. She brought daughters and sons into this world. They are God’s faithful children. And they brought faithful children into this world. And we share the hope that when Jesus comes back, he will find faith on the earth… Perhaps because of grandmas like Grandma T.

When I think of Grandma, I think of:

A dusty Antique Shop and a roll of Mercury dimes in the cash register…
An Easter egg hunt in a small backyard in Sacramento…
Hats… and cleaned, pressed clothing and cameo pendants…
Postcards from Turkey, ceramic whirling dervishes and bronze scribe kits carried long ago by messengers…
Cousin Rick and weeds and ice plant and rolling down a steep Scott’s Valley slope…
A Christmassy-cold garage with ten cousins NOT sleeping…
Earthquakes and moon landings and Days of our Lives…
Correct grammar and proper vocabulary (“crap” or “crud” did not fall into the latter)…
Stories of Greece and Europe and Pacific islands so far away…
Frozen oatmeal cookie batter, and baked cookies in a jar on the steps…
Orange marmalade, pickled artichokes and okra…
Afghans and quilts and homemade presents…
A call on my birthday…

But most of all, as a grandson, I think of her faith and her desire to bind us to the heritage she had received from her parents and grandparents. Of secret conversations and confessions. Of doubts and of certainties. Of regrets and grace. Of life as it could have been and life as it is. And of hope. For there was always hope.

I last saw Grandma T. on August 19, 2006 just before we left for Switzerland. We prayed and hugged. She blessed us with her words and touch. We said goodbye.

Our hearts go out to granddad, especially to dad and aunts and uncle who said goodbye to their mother, but who are at peace with it all.

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

We will go see Grandma T. today. At 94, she lives in a care-facility. Last furlough she was still at home, able to make cookies and tell us where the drinks were, show us pictures and explain long-ago faces to us. Though her mind is still sharp, her vision has dimmed. She is frail, unable to get around.

Nephew B. couldn’t even talk when I saw him last. Now he plays baseball and loves donut holes and hits golf balls. And Niece C. could say just two words on her last visit. Now she is almost 5, can talk your ear off and swim like a fish. Though M. and R. haven’t changed much in 18 months, they’ve grown up and gotten more fun with each visit.

Nephew E. is six weeks old. He may have smiled at Wife and me the other day but I’m not sure. Next time we see him he will be hitting baseballs and eating donuts and whacking golf balls. Maybe even swimming like a fish. And he’ll have 2 new cousins.

The most difficult thing about being away is the sense of loss. You miss out on people growing up and growing older. Missed events and missed experiences. I guess, just a sense of loss.