While milestones. like Joanne's birthday, always come with some grief, grief ameliorates over time. Memories of her last birthday celebration are forefront. Joanne loved birthdays and in 2018, April 1, was Easter Sunday. That leads to the story I've often told. At the Easter Service, our congregation, sang happy birthday to her. Seeing the video of the congregation singing she remarked, "I never knew dying could be so glorious." Twelve days later she died.
It was on that day, Easter and birthday, she ate at table, for the last time. Subsequently, she was too weak to come to the table. What little she ate, she ate in her hospital bed.
To a friend's query, "Does it feel like eight years?" I responded, "I don't know what it feels like." At some point being single began to feel normal. Given her medical difficulties, aside from the fatal cancer, she would have struggled to live alone. Both physically and psychologically, introvert you know, I was better equipped to live alone.
Every day I miss her and I talk to her pictures around the apratment. Grief is most poignant for me seeing our granddaughters grow and mature, knowing what she's missing. She took total delight in them. Many times, putting them to bed, I'd read to Evy and she to Sella. "Grandma I want seven books."
She was wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She accomplished much in her professional career. Rest in peace, good and faithful servant.
Takk for alt,
Al
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