Thursday, February 28th, 2008
Grandma
Thelma Lorraine
October 16, 1924 – February 28, 2008
I am so honored to have known you for 29 years. I’m the luckiest girl in the world to have you for my Grandma. I hope that I make you proud.
I love you so much and am so glad you get to go be with Grandpa again.
Updated: This is a poem in a book that hospice gave us about the dying process. I think it’s perfect and I believe this is truly how it happens. I feel this could have been written just for her, she is truly an object of beauty and strength.
Gone From My Sight
By Henry Van Dyke
I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says: “There, she is gone!”
“Gone where?”
Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: “There, she is gone!” there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: “Here she comes!”
And that is dying.
Comments on this post
Oh Rhi, I’m so sorry to hear of your Grandmother’s passing… You are in my thoughts and prayers.
28. February - 5:59 pmHugs to you and your family.
28. February - 6:55 pmI am so sorry, Rhi. I hope peace and love and good things come to you.
28. February - 7:42 pmI’m so sorry Rhi. You know she is right now giving your Grandpa a big ol hug from you.
28. February - 7:59 pmI absolutely love that Van Dyke passage. I’ll never forget what the pastor said when my grandma passed away. (My grandfather had died six years prior.) “Now Ed and Ginny are once again dancing–on streets of gold!” That statement has stuck with me for nearly ten years.
29. February - 6:48 amI am so sorry for your loss. May your warm memories of all you two shared comfort you always.
29. February - 8:24 amWhat a beautiful poem. I am so sorry for your loss, I’m keeping you in my thoughts today.
xox
29. February - 9:57 amSorry to hear about this.
29. February - 1:16 pmPoor Rhi! I know this is tough on you and your family. You’ve gone through so much lately, yet been so strong! I have your special treat and would love to come over with a movie and comfort you. You deserve to be treated. Call me or email when you want and I’ll be there.
1. March - 5:01 pmLove- Ash xoxo
You are in my thoughts. Hugs. xoxo
3. March - 2:42 pm