my grandmother passed away last thursday in her sleep. she was 98 years old and yet somehow, that still wasn't long enough to get to be with her! we buried her yesterday right outside of the small town in louisiana where she lived for most of her life. she was one of a kind - so sweet, so funny. she has never riden a bicycle, driven a car, gambled or had a sip of alcohol. i spoke at the funeral and this is what i said:
Some of you may know her as Winnie Moreland, but to me she’s Ninnie. She became a grandmother at the age of 63 – I was the first grandchild and her only granddaughter. We had a special bond and I would have to say she spoiled me quite a bit! Every time that she came to visit us or we went to visit her she would scratch my back until I would fall asleep. She would always have some money folded up in her pocket that she would slip to me and my brother (when my parents weren’t around) and she would insist that we took it. She has never punished me or yelled at me (although to tell you the truth, I doubt she has ever yelled at anyone)!
One of her greatest achievements in life was raising a smart, honorable son (who is my dad). Ninnie worked hard and would do without because she wanted the best for him. He went to college and joined the Air Force and became a fighter pilot which she was so proud of. She loved her daughter-in-law like the daughter that she never had and she loved to come and visit us wherever we were stationed around the country. She liked to visit us but she hated the “getting there” part. She flew in an air plane for the first time in 1975 to come see me right after I was born.
About 15 years ago, I brought Brent (who is now my husband) to meet her for the first time, she told me that if I ever decided I didn’t want him around anymore to send him her way because she loved him from the first moment that she met him. And the feeling was mutual – Brent tells everyone in his family that Ninnie is “as sweet as apple pie”! She was a beautiful soul and definitely one of the kindest, sweetest people I’ve ever met (or probably ever will meet).
I am not a writer and I don’t write poetry but I did find an anonymous poem that kind of sums up how I feel about my Ninnie:
A Grandmother is one of life’s best gifts,
Someone to treasure all life through,
She’s caring and loving,
Thoughtful and true,
Someone who all of your life has a special part,
Someone who holds a prime place in your heart,
She’s a mentor, a confidant and also a friend,
Someone on whose love you can depend.
A Grandmother always has your best interests in mind,
She’s someone so dear and so kind,
She’s a blessing, she’s a gift,
She’s someone that is truly wonderful.
Wherever you go, and whatever you do,
A Grandmother’s love will always see you through,
These are my sentiments, Ninnie, for you!
Heaven may have gained a new angel, but we have definitely lost an angel here on Earth!
i love you, ninnie and i am going to miss you so much!!
No comments:
Post a Comment