Grandma Leona - I love you.

I had an all too familiar weekend.  Just months ago, I was in Chicago for the funeral of my grandma on my dad's side and this weekend, I was back again for the funeral of grandma on my mom's side.  Everything from the hotel to the red brick Chicago style funeral home to the saying goodbye struck familiarity.

One thing grandma always said was that she was going to live to be 111.  I don't know where that number came from but it was her number.  She had been on hospice the last two years and it sure felt like she was fighting for that 111 mark.  While that didn't happen, she made it well into her 90s and lived an amazing life.  From her story of immigration to falling in love with a ballroom dancer like herself, to marrying her love who was a funeral director, to end up styling the deceased hair as part of the business!  Grandma became an incredible author and now I can read her story as well as so much of my family history through her eyes in the books that she's published.

I have so many memories of Grandma that start in my childhood.

The giant parties in her basement,

Santa clause coming over every Christmas,

The model train around their Christmas tree,

Sarge, her giant german shepherd that I was scared of but wish i knew him now,

Her visiting us in Minneapolis and attending my softball games and neighborhood block parties,

Taking Limo rides just to go to Red Lobster,

All the polish and Czech food I ate and learned about every time I came back to Chicago,

Her red, brick, ranch-style home and each room with distinction,

The photo albums that flooded her basement,

The Eastern European vacation she took me on to explore our genealogy!

Not only does my mind fill with memories but with gratitude for all she and my grandpa did for our family to get us back on our feet so many times.

But the most special memory I have was seeing my grandparents love each other for over fifty years. Every time grandpa called grandma sweetheart and every time she wanted to be where he was in the house.  When Grandma laughed at grandpa’s jokes, the same ones he told over and over.  When they held hands and of course when they danced.  When their playful banter always followed up with an endearing expression like the words, sweetheart or I Love you.

I love the thought of grandma being with grandpa again!

Also, while she never got to meet my youngest daughter, I felt she was watching us at the funeral and got to meet her when I held her in my arms as I visited her casket.

I love you Grandma!

The last time I saw her, giving my son, her great grandson, a hug!