I believe in God, a god who is purposeful, intelligent, kind and present. If I were to say that there is no reason behind the blessed way He has provided for me throughout my life, I would not be properly honoring all of the provisions made for my rich, amazing life. When I was a child I had four grandparents, all of whom were amazing people individually; time and illness have claimed three of them. Grandma Carolyn is the matriarch of my mother’s side of the family. She became a widow 20 years ago. She is my only familial connection to that generation.
At my father’s prompting I took Grandma Carolyn out for coffee yesterday. My parents had a celebration on the 6th, and Grandma had stayed the evening with us. Carolyn is tenacious, independent, willful, and smart. At age 87 she lives alone in a two-story house, is the owner and operator of five apartments, volunteers regularly, and works during tax season for an accountant. We sat and talked for a little over an hour about her father Ray, Yakima city, my grandfather Norman and travel; happy memories of life building. At one point she said “without me, there’s no you, huh?” I smiled, I have thought of that often.
After our time together, my grandmother loaded her things into her Cadillac to begin the three hour drive back to Yakima. She makes the journey back and forth some 10 times a year. I hope I inherit her strength, fortitude, optimism, and sense of humor. God’s love, greater than I can know, is evident in the blessing of this amazing woman in my life.
albaniacalling 