Tribute

Posted by Susan in Sound Bytes with SusanAshlea | 4 comments

Today is a very odd day for my column. Normally I try to keep my column dedicated to the genre or fan fiction or something of the sort. Today I’m going in a different direction and doing a tribute.

My grandmother, Stella, is probably the most amazing woman I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. This woman lived through the Great Depression, World War II, The Sexual Revolution, Vietnam and Korean conflicts, the 80′s, 9/11…she has seen so many things in her life. She was a strong Christian woman who, if it weren’t for her, my faith would have dried up a long time ago. She was an amazing mother who took care of her children while her husband was fighting in the South Pacific. She was frugal yet generous, and she never met a stranger.

I remember spending weekends with my grandparents; me, my brother and my two cousins spent more time there in the summer than we did our own houses. For two weeks every summer, they took us camping at the lake. They hosted parties for us when our own homes were too small. Our friends were always welcome, and she always had a big spread ready for us to eat. Each morning, we’d get our choice of bran flakes (because they keep you regular), “good hot oats”, or eggs and bacon. And don’t forget the coffee! Grandma turned us all into coffee drinkers at the ripe old age of 12 or 13.

Grandma taught me to drive in her 1964 baby blue Buick Skylark. She was my taxi drive, my Bible Study leader, my confidant, and my friend.

Yesterday, she passed away around 11am. She had been suffering from the effects of a severe stroke that she had on May 28th. She was paralyzed and could hardly talk. I saw her the day before I left on vacation and she chatted up a storm & even knew who I was without me saying. Aside from the slurred speech, she was herself: tart, sarcastic and bossy. I am glad my last visit with her was on a good day.

My family often joked that if Grandma Stella doesn’t get into Heaven, there isn’t one. When the doctor’s said they were surprised she hadn’t already had a series of strokes after the first one, my Mom said it’s because Jesus was girding his loins to make sure Heaven is ready for Grandma. We can now all rest assured that Heaven is in pristine working order, since Grandma Stella would accept nothing less.

My grandmother supported everything I ever did, regardless of how ridiculous it might sound to a lot of people. When her friends were scoffing at the internet, she welcomed the friends I made over the web. When everyone else was chastising me for choosing to study music in college, my grandmother was bragging about it. Yes, we argued. We didn’t often see eye to eye, but always knew that I should appreciate every moment I had with her. The older I got, the less time we spent together, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t appreciate each moment, even when we were arguing (a 56 year generation gap provides for many entertaining arguments).

I miss her already, but I know she is where she’s always wanted to be. She is no longer suffering, and she is with my grandpa and all of her Bible heroes, and one day I know I will see her again. In the meantime, I wanted to take this opportunity to share with everyone what an amazing woman this world is missing.

I love you, Grandma Stella. I miss you already.