My Gramps and Grand mommy...

My Gramps and Grand mommy...
 They have been gone now for quite sometime. I was only nine years of age when my Grandfather left this world and nineteen when my Grandmother passed. Gramps and Grand mommy, that is what I called them. I often think of them from time to time and wonder what life must really be like in Heaven. I can only imagine...
My Gramps was one of the most gentle and loving people I knew. He would do anything for anyone in need. Even though I was only nine when he passed, I cling tight to the memories I have of him. I can still see him standing in the kitchen at Thanksgiving...he would always carve the turkey. I think most of the time he did more eating then carving and I can still hear my Grand mommy saying "stop that or there won't be anything left to eat." Boy could my Gramps put down some food. One of his favorite "snacks" was a peanut butter and banana sandwich. Ohh and apples...he was always eating an apple. When he wasn't napping or eating, he was gardening. He always had the most beautiful garden and I can still picture it in my mind today. Gramps would always walk around the house in a white v-neck t-shirt and pants. He always wore the same gold necklace. It was a skull necklace, and though most people would find this rather creepy, for whatever reason, my Gramps loved it.
Whenever I think about my Gramps and Grand mommy, I think about their house and the HUGE basement they had. For whatever reason, I was always so scared to even go near the stairs, much less open the basement door. I suppose it is because I was a little kid, but to me, the basement looked more like a dungeon. My Gramps would always take me by my hand and lead me down the stairs. With him, I was safe.
I still remember the day we got the news that he passed. My family, with the exception of my Dad were all at church. I was outside with my bestie at the time, when my Dad pulled into the parking lot. From the moment he opened the door of his truck and our eyes met, I knew that something was up. I may have been only nine at the time, but the look in his eyes said it all. I kept asking what was wrong, as I followed him across the parking lot, down the stairs into the church fellowship hall. He walked up to my Mom with tears in his eyes, and instantly my Mom knew what was wrong. She managed to mutter the words "he is gone." I immediately burst into tears as my Mom sank into my Dad's arms. That moment is forever embedded in my mind. The rest of the evening was mostly a blur. I remember crying so hard that it literally felt as if my lungs could burst. That evening one of my parents friends came to pick me and my older sister, Nichole up. We were to stay at their house for the night. We were all packed like sardines in her mini van. Crying literally all day had given me a migraine headache. The scent of butterscotch filled the air, and I immediately got sick. Too this day, I can still sense that smell and it literally makes me sick to my stomach.
The next few days were kind of fuzzy, as many people came to gather at our house and bring us food and flowers and offer their condolences. I wish I could say what the next few weeks were like, but honestly I don't remember. I would imagine they were filled with much sadness.
When my Grand mommy passed, I must admit it felt more like a relief for our family. Not because she was now gone, but because my Grandmother had what I call one of the worse diseases ever...Alzheimer's. If you don't know what Alzheimer's is allow me to educate you for a minute. Alzheimer's is basically progressive mental deterioration. The things you once could remember, are now gone...your past vanished into thin air. You become incapable of taking care of yourself. You forget family members names and perhaps even your own. I wouldn't wish this disease on my worst enemy. My Grandmother battled this for years. My Grand mommy was a smart woman. She was a nurse anesthetist. She had dedicated her life to helping make people feel better, but for her, there was no cure. She always dressed in the finest of clothes. My Grandmother also liked her liquor. I always remember her sipping on scotch. She always had a glass of this at night right before bed. Two days before she passed my Grandmother actually remembered everyone. I think this was God's way of preparing us for what was about to come. She passed on her birthday, December 5th, 2001. She was 74 years old.
Even tough many years have come to pass, I still think of my Gramps and Grand mommy often. I think about all the things they have missed out on. Sometimes I wonder what they would think about my son, James. I can picture them all smiling right now. But then, I remember, by the Grace of God, that I will see them again one day. Until then, you are loved and missed and I can still hear your words ringing ever near...Good Night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite! Ta Do Ta Do...for the red, white and blue!
Love,
-Dallas-