Godspeed, Maria

At 10:58 a.m., Grandma Maria passed away quietly, peacefully, and with dignity in her home with my father at her side.  Mom, Flynn, and I were also there, with more family arriving shortly thereafter.  I don't know what was more heartwrenching: watching her being taken away, or Flynn going into her room to find her.

She was feisty till the end.  Her sense of humor remained intact while her body was failing.  On Tuesday, Dad asked, "Mom, do you need anything?"  Her response: "A thousand dollars."

My brother and I spent time with her every summer (not always together, due to the fighting and sibling bickering).  I will always remember the wonderous exploration of the basement and the attic space.  I am still trying to forget how she and her coffee klatch would eat nettles while wearing dentures, and then smile at me with slimy green stuff in their teeth.  She would always have a lottery card waiting for me to fill in the six numbers.  She always took me to Wendy's (we didn't go to Wendy's very often at home).  She taught me how to play cribbage.  She was the luckiest blackjack player I ever met.  She would take me mushroom hunting.  One of her favorite phrases: Ooooohhh, shit.  Gotta love that.

Maria and the boys on her 83rd birthday

We love you and we'll miss you!