Ciao, Gam

[infrogmation]

My last surviving grandparent is gone.

My maternal grandmother died at age 96. This was not unexpected.





My Grandmother and me in the garden of the Cippriani Hotel (a fancy hotel where we went to lunch) in Venice, 1993.

Saying she'd rather see me enjoy her money while she was still alive, she offered to give me a trip to Europe. I said I'd like to see Italy. She thought this was such a good idea she decided to come to Venice too (she'd been there several times before). After this I traveled around on my own-- she gave me money for a 10 day trip... but according to how SHE would take a 10 day trip. It lasted me 3 months of backpacking around the continent. After I gave her an account of my travels, she was as pleased with that as I was.

Thanks for the happy memories, Gam.

Comments

[jecook]

My condolences.

[crystalgee.livejournal.com]

What a remarkable lady.. she will be missed.

[xflapperjanex.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear about your grandma. It's always difficult when loved ones pass away, but I'm sure she would be delighted to know that you have such lovely memories of her to share.

[mshollie.livejournal.com]

My condolences on your loss, but she will be loved as well as missed.

[glitter-ninja.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry about your grandma. She sounds like a terrific lady.

[petalbreeze.livejournal.com]

It's really great that you have such great memories of your grandmother. That means she will live forever in your heart.

Grandmother

[infrogmation.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the good wishes.

As I said, it was not unexpected. She was in pretty good shape all through her 80s (hey, she must have been 84 in the photo above), but in the past few years everything was just wearing out, and she'd been bedridden for a while. I'm glad the doctors and caregivers were able to keep her out of pain in her final decline.

[twillis.livejournal.com]

I suppose that's the grown-up way of looking at it, but the little kid in me just wishes the good ones could go on and on.