Week 4 - Ring

Week 4 - Ring

All my life my grandma, Gramma Lou, and I had a connection. Yes of course she was my father's mother, but our relationship was much more than that. From a very young age, I felt loved and cared for by her. She listened to me, she hugged me, she told me secrets. She had this southern belle, yet sass about her.  Just thinking about it makes me miss her.

There is one memory of my Gramma that I will never forget.  It was the day we lost her mother, Gramma BooBoo. We were at the nursing home, in her room and were with her the moment she took her last breath. I remember everything like it was yesterday.  It was the first time I really experienced a death, and could understand what happened.  I remember holding Gramma Lou's hand, crying with her, and walking down the hallway with her.  Everything at that moment sicks in my head, the smell, the floor tiles, the hand rails. Ever since that day, there was this unspoken bond we shared.

It came time for Gramma Lou to downsize so she moved close by us in Schaumburg. It was easy to just go over and spend time with her, either at her house or she was at ours. She was always a part of everything we did. Then our world was turned upside down, Dad found out that his job was transferring him (and us) to Detroit.  Detroit.  Wow, what a drastic change.  As we prepared to move, Gramma had a choice to move with us, or move close to my godparents (My Dad's older brother and wife) in Wisconsin. She made the decision to move to WI and reconnect with my godparents S&R.

It was difficult to adjust to the change, no family, had to make new friends, don't know where anything is, oh and Gramma is now 8 hours away.  Thankfully, my parents took every chance they could for us to take a road trip and visit Gramma, Aunt Sherri and Uncle Rick.  At the time, I was resistant to being in the car the whole weekend, or every school break, or holiday.  But now I can not be more thankful to have had the kind of parents that made it a point for their kids to spend time with the family.

Fast forward to my high school years, I found myself really enjoying the one on one time with Gramma during our visits.  I realized what a witty (smarty pants) and fun lady Gramma Lou was.  There were times we would sit at her kitchen table and thumb through old photos and letters.  She would share her stories and memories of the past.  It was then that I really learned the relationship that I had with my Gramma Lou is one that I would never find in any other person.  It wasn't just a entitled love, she really listened and truly understood me.  There were other times where we would sit on her bed playing with all her jewelry.  She would show me all the jewelry she was given by other family members, then explain how we were related and why its important to the family.

There was one particular ring that she would wear on her ring finger.  She didn't wear it all the time, but when she did I always commented.  It was simple, and her style.  It was this tiny little diamond band, that seemed to always be loose on her finger.  The thing is, every time I asked about the story behind the ring, she never had one.  She just liked it.  She always told me, "before you go home, make sure you take that ring you like".  I always told her, no its hers, and that's how I remember her.  

The years moved forward, and Gramma Lou move into the nursing home.  Her health was declining, and her mind was in and out of her childhood.  I saw her two last times before she passed, one at my dad's funeral and the last time was a few weeks before she left us.  All I can say without getting choked up is that it was a difficult time.  S&R took care of everything, and I mean everything arrangements, dividing up her belongings and finalizing her finances.  Bless them.  

A few years after Gramma's passing, they decided to pack up and move to the warm weather of New Mexico.  I had a chance to go visit them this December and spend some much needed time off.  S has always asked me if there was anything of Gramma's that I wanted to have to remember her.  The only thing I could remember was that little ring.  For a few years, I told her this.  She continued to tell me that it probably was lost or stolen at the nursing home.  I just dealt with it and really didn't think twice.

While we were getting ready to go shopping, she turns to me and hands me this envelope.  I open it up and sure enough, its the ring.  She told me she found it, in the envelope, in a shoe box after they had moved to New Mexico.  I was astonished.  How did this tiny little ring make it all through the nursing home, back to S&R's house, and then the move to NM?   S said she new how happy I would be, and was excited to give it to me on during my visit.

I had to take a moment to reflect on what had just happened.  I am a firm believer in "The Secret", the law of attraction.  I had been wanting and hoping for a ring this last year, it just came from a different person than I hoped.  Nonetheless, this is a memory and story I will never forget.  I truly believe my Gramma Lou is always with me and guiding me through this life.

Reflection and an open mind for positive things to enter into my life.

Until my next post, be better. do better....