Friday, July 15, 2011

riding the waves

today my dad called, mid morning, on a friday... that is not normal. i knew answering it would bring news of some sort. he called to tell me my grandmother was not well. she was 92, her birthday is this coming week.
he said it may be a few days... it was only an hour.
i am glad she is free from pain and the body that gave in many years before.
to me she was granny. i was the first born grandchild and was the only for many years until my first cousin was born, then somewhere along the line my cousins (many came after that first one) began calling her gammy and that stuck, but to me she was granny. she was a funny one. she liked to go bowling. and then when her knees were bad she liked to go watch others bowl. :) when my grandfather passed away many years ago she really seemed to change to me. she seemed sassier. maybe she was always sassy, and now that i was an adult i could appreciate that. as she aged even more she was known to swear a little like a sailor... that is just funny stuff. she hated if her hair was not done and she had a wig that would come out every now and then on those days. if she didn't like something trust me you knew about it. she was obsessed with those stuffed animals that sing or dance or better yet, sing AND dance. when she was still living at her home, she would surround herself with these things and insist that you play each one. her body failed her, and now she is free of that body. xo

i could not stop thinking of my dad today, the sadness that his heart must feel. he lives far from me so i could not go hug him, but i was sending him my love through the day. we went to the beach, as we often do if the sun is shining. my dad gifted me his love of water and swimming. he was a swimmer, he loves the ocean, some of my fondest memories are of our summer vacations in stone harbor when i was a kid. he would body surf. i thought that was SO cool. i would boogie board and thought I was cool too. now kellen loves to boogie board, and to say my boy loves the ocean may be a huge understatement, so it is a passion passed on. i have not really ridden a boogie board in many years. I have taught kellen, but i had not really taken it out and rode all by myself in a long time. today the waters were cold and rougher than usual. perhaps last night's full moon working its magic, but i waded out in that cold. i took kellen's board and rode a few waves. i wish my dad could have been there with us. i wish he could have seen me ride, and then seen kellen ride. i think he would have loved that. maybe he would have body surfed right next to us.
so i rode a few waves today. some for me, and some most definitely for my dad. i hope he could feel it.

10 comments:

Pétra said...

What a beautiful post. I had a Granny too and still miss her it sounds like they both had the same sassy spirit.

sarah jean, said...

sending you love my friend. riding the wave of life, through it's highs & lows. xo

Lisa Gutierrez said...

Much peace to you and yours! She lives on through you and your littles.

kristen said...

I love this post so much and I love you. And I'm holding you in my thoughts this weekend, knowing what you're going through.

RIP to your granny, and take good care of yourself too Kristin. xoxo

Rosie Grey said...

I'm sending hugs and all my warmest wishes to you and your Dad!

Tammy Lee Bradley said...

Wonderful tribute. My thoughts and prayers will be with you today. tam

keli [at] kidnapped by suburbia said...

a beautiful tribute to her, kristin. she is definitely watching from somewhere. xoxo

danasparkle said...

sending your tender heart soft hugs and sparks of sass. i feel your granny & dad were both with you riding those waves.
*

Jessica said...

I'm sorry to hear about your granny. I miss my grandma (Nana) a lot. Very beautiful post.

ELK said...

so sorry to read of this significant loss ... your memories will carry you , sending love across the miles