Harvey's Lake, PA
Helen, aka, Grammy
We, as a family, have been pulled in many directions - as most families are these days. Particularly in the direction of a beloved (only 65 yrs old...)Grammy whose battle with cancer has come to it's insidious and destructive end. That is where my time has been rather than keeping a daily blog. I think I will be lucky to get a bi-weekly post up, but it's a start, right?
The Grammy who rocked all four of my babies, arms never tiring, slipped beyond the grave this past Thursday, September 11. She fought to remain with her loved ones every step of the way. I admire the courage she had and the absolute capacity to hide her very personal and intense struggle with this disease. The lymphoma invaded her body 6 years ago and claimed her on a most beautiful September day...
Sweet Kristen said good-bye the night before but couldn't bear to go back as Grammy exited this mortal life. Kait and Kerry couldn't bear the thought of her leaving without them at her side and they each held a hand and sang her sweet songs as she journeyed from this terrestrial realm to the other side of our earthly veil. Beloved grandson Will is mourning alone out at school in Provo. A very sad young man and my heart aches for him - for all of them as they say good-bye to another grandparent in the course of a year and a half. They lost their maternal grandfather, my Dad, in Feb of 2007. Then the loss of their Great Grammy Sherksnas in September of 2007 - and now Grammy. Lucky, lucky children and young adults who have the knowledge of how much they were loved by their grandparents. Truly loved.
They will forever remember and be able to sing to their own children the famous "Grammy Rock-A-Bye Song". They will most likely get moist-eyed or tear-up as they hear the very familiar, "You Are My Sunshine" - an especially good bull's-eye-of-a-guess, seeing as they could could tear-up at the sound of the refrain even before Grammy's passing...
They will never forget their Slovak/Ukranian roots on that Grammy's side as they indulge in the familiar comfort foods of her house:
Halupke, Halushke, Goulash, Grammy's Chicken Soup, Grammy's Mashed Potatoes, the best Norhteast PA Keilbasa in the whole world, and Nut Roll at Easter, Prune Christmas Cookies (Did you say, "Prune"??? - well, yes I did and they are the BEST...)
...just to name a few .....
They will have a lifetime of treasured memories first bestowed by Great-Grammy, then by Grammy - of summers at the Lake. That would be Harvey's Lake, the largest natural lake in PA. So many pictures of kids jumping off docks and into that lake.
I think it's time to go look for pictures... because these musings could take up the next 10 pages.
And, if you have a minute or two, watch this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YMLmlHfehQ&feature=related
1 comment:
Neece that was very beautiful! She was a wonderful kind woman who did love your children very much! Thanks for sharing! Keep going on your blog, it is gonna be great!
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