June 17th 2007 - The Dream - My Grandmother

So a few days ago I was speaking to my Mom on the phone discussing Grandma's death.

Mom was describing what the staff at the assisted living place had told her about Grandma's last moments of life. It was described almost as if she just started coughing, choked and died within moments. I think Mom was feeling that basically Grandma had choked to death.

But EVERY TIME I tried to talk to Mom about this during our phone conversation the line would go dead so that Mom couldn't hear what I was saying.

I'd hear her say "Hello? Hello?"....

I'd stop talking about Grandma...and the line would clear.

This must have happened at least 6 times in a row!

We both laughed saying maybe Grandma was trying to tell us something. I stopped trying to talk about her body...and the phone remained clear from then on. I don't have a history of phone line troubles.

Anyway, so last night/early this morning I woke up from a very vivid dream about my Grandmother. She was talking to me and standing behind her were my Grandfather, my Uncle Johnny, and a crowd of other relatives who had passed away over the years. Most of them are buried in the same cemetery in which my Grandmother was laid to rest - thanks to a large family plot purchased by my Great Grandparents many, many, years ago.

In my dream she said to me, "I didn't choke. They came to get me, and I went. It was what I wanted." I could see almost a movie of it; my Uncle Johnny (her brother) coming for her with his hand out and my Grandfather right behind him smiling and all of the others with them. I could also feel her happiness. I'm not sure if she told me she was happy...or if I just felt it. It was a strong sensation either way.

I woke up thinking, "Wow! That sure felt real! I'll have to tell Mom." and promptly fell back to sleep.

When I woke up this morning I almost called her right away, but it was early and it's Father's Day, so I figured I'd tell her later.

But then you know how when you dream something...and wake up.....it begins to fade?

It was fading without me realizing it, until I spoke to my Mom.

Suddenly as she was about to hand the phone over to Dad for his Father's Day greeting from me, it all burst back into my mind.

I told her I wanted to tell her about a dream I had about Grandma. She and her sister had a dream about her too. I thought maybe they would all be the same dream, but they weren't.

Mom became very emotional when I told her mine....and I had a strong sense that I was supposed to have told her about it.

I'm glad it didn't slip away before I could tell her.

I always felt very bonded with my Grandmother....and I still do. I can feel her around me. It's hard to explain the sensation to anyone...but I know I'm not crazy.

Seeing her body so soon after she passed away was an odd experience for me. I had the strongest sensation that I was simply looking at her shell....like a shell on the beach. A vessel that once held life. Her spirit was no longer in her shell....she was where she should be...but still within reach in some way.

The sensation of her presence remains like a sort of whisper.

Grandma May 21, 1919 - June 3, 2007

Mares eat oasts n Does eat Oats and little lambs eat Ivy...

A kid'll eat ivy too, wouldn't you?

Grandma couldn't sing... or so she thought ....or so we teased...

but I can clearly hear her singing that song in my head...and it sounds beautiful to me. It always did.

Since I was a teenager, whenever I'd call grandma on the phone I'd say "Hello my beautiful grandmother!"....and she'd reply "Hello my beautiful Granddaughter!" It was just a greeting, but it was something that I think both of us loved. I always felt like if she ever reached a point where she lost her memory and didn't know me, she'd probably still automatically answer that greeting in the same way.

She had a way of making each one of us feel like we were an important part of her life. Perhaps that is because she was an important part of ours.

Visiting grandma and grandpa was always fun. It wasn't that they took us to exciting places, but there was a magical element to their house.

First of all, their house always smelled like toasted english muffins...

Grandma's parakeetes could ALWAYS talk.. pretty bird.. (We've had parakeets for years and they haven't said a thing! (except maybe "get me outta here! in tweet")

And to all of my cousins...remember the frogs in Grandma and Grandpa's yard? Where did they come from? Have you ever seen that anywhere else? I never have.

Grandma's cooking was magical too. I would be happy to live on her leg of lamb, mint jelly, gravy, roasted potatoes, and shrimp and egg salad every day for the rest of my life. Honestly...it's what dreams are made of!


Tracy and I had an ongoing "Grandma Loves me the Most Competition" Birthdays $5.00 - $100.00?

Speaking of competetivc:

Grandma's little known "Dark side"

Ever played Password with her?

PASSWORD - based on old TV Game Show from the 60's and 70's

The object is for one teammate to get the other teammate to say the password given a series of clues. Each time a clue is given, the other player can guess the password - if they get it right the team scores.

If they get it wrong, the other team gets to try a clue word.

Score is higher if you guess it on the first clue -

As a clue-giver you can only say one word (non hyphenated) so you need to find the "definitive" clue. No sounds or charades allowed

Grandma, Me - Team One "Lighthouse"

Gran: Beacon

Me: Breakfast meat

Tracy & David - Team Two "Dog"

David: Cat

Trac: Dog! SCORE!

Lighthouse - Gran: Ships

Me: Trains

"Fan"

David: Blow

Tracy: FAN!

Granny starts getting agitated: not having fun "Lighthouse" Ocean

Me: Pacific

She taps card in exapseration

David "Drip"

Tracy "sweat!"

They get it again!

Granny starts coughing...but it sounds like Fog Horn

"Horn"

Me: "car"

Arggggghh! She jumps up and says "I have to start dinner! You guys finish the game" Tracy and David "We Win! We Win!"

I was very fortunate to have my Grandmother in my life for 44 years.

I know that she is happy in heaven, and finally reuntied with Grandpa...and all I have to do is say "Hello my beautiful grandmother" and I can feel her with me any time I want to.