My Grammy isn’t remembering things the way she used to. And it’s literally broken my heart. I can’t imagine not remembering the special moments and the trying moments that somehow come together to make up this thing we call life. I can’t imagine not being able to recall the name of my favorite restaurant or my child. I literally feel like a part of my heart has been crushed. I try not to think about how it would make my daughter feel if one of her favorite people in the world could no longer recall their favorite songs and Bible stories.
I want to always remember my Grammy the way she was yesterday. Last night I wrote on my Facebook status that my prayer is that she will always remember how happy she was today. After pouring my heart out to my bestests’ about the news that had literally turned my world upside down, I remembered that my Grandmother’s birthday was coming up. I decided that I wanted to have a celebration and being that they had grown up with her and she had become just as much their Grammy as she is mine; they wanted to be a part of it.
We decided that we’d take her out to a restaurant because Grammy loves to go out. We ended up having to wait a little to be seated because she wanted to sit by the window. She wanted the view and we were happy to oblige. We sat around the table adorned in our party hats smiling seeing how happy Grammy was to be surrounded by people who loved her and wanted her to have the Happiest Birthday yet. She had been sad lately knowing that things had changed. I think she was scared. We all were. I still am. For some of us tears fell because it’s so difficult not to think about what might me. But our tears turned into smiles again and our hearts filled with gratitude knowing that 84 years of life is a joyous occasion and God-willing there will be many more.
Yesterday was perfect. It lifted her spirit and ours. We needed it but more importantly she did. It was a reminder that she still matters and always will, and that her presence in this world is just as valuable as it was 84 years ago. I am praying like crazy these days that God willing she will remember. We took pictures, lots of them. So that we could capture the moment because embedding it in our hearts and brains wasn’t enough. And if she ever forgets we will be there with pictures in tow and we will tell her the story about a very special day, a day in which she had, what she described to my mother as, the very first birthday party she had ever had – 84 years in the making.
{Grammy and me in our party hats. She’s really into statement pieces.}
p.s. I will be back this week with more pictures from our celebration and our custom party hats :)
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Awwww, what a sweet post for your grammy! It must be so hard watching someone you love not remember like they used to. It’s a terrible disease. In my line of work I see how it affects families every day. But wow, how lucky is she to have someone like you in her life!
molly recently posted..waking up.
Thank you Molly! I couldn’t imagine what it’s like to see this every day with so many families but am sure you are making a valuable contribution to their lives as best you can. I’m grateful as I’ve been around my grandmother my entire life as has my daughter and prayerfully we’ll continue to make memories together.
Despite it all, I’m glad you guys were able to celebrate with her. There is some comfort in retelling her the stories she once told to you…at least there was for me.
Bridget recently posted..12 Crafts of Christmas {DIY Personalized Dessert Carrier}
I’m glad too. Thank you Bridget. Thank you so much.
The two of you look very sassy with your statement hats. I hope all is well and mostly smiles for you and Grammy.
Thank you! It was a lot of fun to wear them and made her so happy. I saw her today. All smiles :) Thank you again.