May 25, 2012

The Birthday Kiss.

Last week my grandmother turned 97. I don't mind telling you that she is really, really old. It's hard to be really old...it hurts. My mom told me that she moved the photograph of my Grandpa so that my Grandma could see it from her pillow. She turned and looked at it wistfully, smiling and nodding, remembering...she believes she'll be with him soon.

But not just yet.

I'll spare you the details of what it truly means to live this long in a body that's giving out, but suffice to say that my Grandma is brave, strong and a real hard ass when it comes to life. She's just not quite ready to let go yet. So the family gathered to celebrate her birthday, and although she was in a lot of pain, she did smile and tell us she loves us. And the youngest of us, my little Nieceling who is not quite two, got up on her tippy toes to give her Great-Grandmother a birthday kiss. Time stood still. The room was spell bound as the two leaned toward one another, the very young and the very elderly; no one wanted to miss the moment by fumbling for their camera.



So I drew it.

UPDATE - June 21, 2012.
My precious Grandma slipped gently away today. She is celebrated, missed and remembered.

RIP Maria Marrelli.


24 comments:

  1. This makes me tear up. My grandmother turned 99 on April 8th. 99 years, 9 kids, 3 husbands, hundreds of grand kids, great grand kids and great great grand kids (up to 6 generations worth) and she is still hanging on... barely. we are in the end stages of life with her... Had you asked me two months ago on her birthday if we would be here, I would have told you no... I truly believed we would be celebrating her 100th birthday next year. Sadly, God has other plans. But I know she has lived a good full life.

    Cherish every moment!

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  2. That is so precious JC. You have an incredible talent for capturing a moment and tugging our heartstrings. Don't ever stop <3

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  3. Yup - you got it JC! It's incredible how she rallied momentarily in the midst of incredible pain to celebrate with all of us. She is a REALLY tough cookie!

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  4. Truly the sweetest, most adorable and precious drawing ever! :)

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  5. special and poignant - you and have so many shared loving moments! My great-grandma lived with my grandma who cared for her at home through the final 90+ years. I combed GGma's long grey hair, and we braided it together. The memories of long blessed lives well lived. May we all know the pure love of family and share these sweet prayers in life! Your friend, Anne in OZ

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  6. Cherish those moments. <3

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  7. wonderful moment.

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  8. Oh - make me cry. My grandmother turned 97 March 2011 - we had a lovely party. She passed last September and I know she had been in a lot of pain. Bless your heart.

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  9. Totally choked up seeing this. So sweet.

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  10. Sorry to hear of your loss. How wonderful it must have been for her to have so many gather one last time.

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Cuz You Rocketh.