Visiting Grandma

We quickly stop at a fast food restaurant before we arrive, knowing she loves the big chicken strips.  Our arms are bringing in loads of goodies.  The receptionist opens the door for us.  "Is this all for Lucille?"she says.  "It's a party," I reply. When I was little, she did it for me.  She was always kind and loving.  She did not have a lot in material possessions to share.  She shared her heart.

Now she is old, alone and her memory is failing her.  She did not know who the kids were until I came into the room.  She kept saying she was sorry for not knowing who they were.  "It's OK, Grandma.  It's OK."


We share our simple lunch, watch a couple episodes of Little House on the Prairie. I bring out the Christmas cookies.  "Oh, they are too pretty to eat," she says.  But she does eat them eventually.  She tosses aside her chicken for the cookies. She always does this.  My sweet grandma is amazing.  How has she made it this long on her sweet tooth?

It's a  wonderful visit.  She starts out a little confused, but as the afternoon comes, she is mentally sharper. She remembers things my mom told her during her last visit.   We've laughed.  We've eaten too many cookies.  We've taken pictures.  We've looked at old greeting cards she keeps in a big basket.  And it is time to go, again. But, next week we are coming again and my cousin will be there with her two kids.  We will surround grandma with love and hope she knows how much we love her. It is a privilege to do so.