Please excuse the interruption of our regularly scheduled program.

I just haven't been into the whole 30 days for the past while. So I decided to take a break.
I got an email a few days ago from Mom telling us that Grandma was going into hospice care. They call it "comfort care," they've done all they can do for her, now they'll just keep her comfortable. Dad called me last night to explain a little more what's going on. She doesn't have much time left, and while she's... going... my dad suggested I write her a letter, for them to read to her, because, even if I wanted to, I can't go home before I take the GRE next Thursday, and that's on the outside of their estimations. I stayed up last night writing it, and, I guess I'm pleased at how it came out. So I'm sharing, and I'm crying. (Mom got it and sent me an email asking me how she was supposed to read it without crying. I submit that she should have one of the more stalwart children read it... Like R who read "That thine alms may be in secret" (a crying Christmas Story) last year without a tear shed. Too bad R's here with me.) So much for the makeup I put on this morning... Enjoy.

Hi Grandma, 

I've been thinking about how lucky I am to have you for my grandma. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have grown up living next door to you. You always had time for me and I always felt like you were just waiting for me to come over. I loved that time with you, even if I ran home quickly when Grandpa came home.

I loved the books you had behind your chair, that were special, just at Grandma's house books. And how you had toys in the back room for us to play with. I remember the kitchen set and how you had that bag of marshmallows that you kept in the bottom cupboard in the kitchen that I got to play with, then eat. I loved that you always had the candy dish, and maybe even more, I loved your desk. I loved all the little drawers and how they had treasures in them. The magnet with all the little metal pieces is still one of my favorite things. I was trying to explain it to someone, but I just had to show him when he came to visit. I remember going to Port Townsend with you and Aunt Marian. You took me to the beach and helped me find sea glass and shells. I remember our bus trips to K-mart and going to the K-mart Cafe and how you would always get me coloring books and Berenstein Bears books. I remember when I got a little older you got me a coloring book of fairies, elves and gnomes and colored pencils and it sat up on a shelf in the laundry room where the little kids couldn't get to it, it was just for me. I still have that book. I remember how you had chapstick in the drawers in the bathroom just for us to put on while you put on makeup. 

I remember Sunday dinners when you would bring your apple salad. And you would always put just enough cherries on the top for each of us kids to have one with the stem on it. Now I make it for my friends and they all love "Grandma's Apple Salad."

When I think of you, I always think of that orange had that Grandpa bought you. I love that hat. I think of you when I see the wisteria. Somehow I always think that I'll never really be at home unless I have a wisteria in my yard. 

I'm so glad I got to see you when I was home in August. I love you so much Grandma. 

Love, 

Emily Claire