Eighty nine years ago today, the world welcomed a wonderful baby girl. She was born to poor farmers in a small town just north of Atlanta, Georgia. This baby would do some extraordinary things. In the 1920's, a complete education wasn't the norm -- most girls finished up with 8th grade, but this young lady went on to college, where she played basketball -- one more thing that set her apart from the typical girl. She went on to nursing school, until meeting the love of her life. Women weren't allowed to be nurses or teachers back then if they were married, so she gave up that dream and married this tall, handsome boy from the mountains.
Soon after they wed, Pearl Harbor was bombed and the young man went off to enlist... only he had a bad heart and they wouldn't take him. They did, however, send him off to a ship yard up north in Virginia. With all of their possessions in two suitcases and a steamer trunk, this young couple set off for Virginia, where they would spend the rest of their lives.
The young woman gave birth to a beautiful baby girl and then lost a baby boy several years later. She eventually ended up teaching -- once the restriction of marriage was lifted. She was such a dynamic person that to this very day people fondly recall her science class. She taught three generations of locals before finally retiring in 1979.
In 1992, she lost the only man she had ever loved. Her grief was profound and those who knew her best thought that she would lay down and die beside him. In an odd turn of events, she was diagnosed with breast cancer the following year and, instead of causing her to give up and join her beloved in heaven, it sparked a fire of defiance in her heart. She fought the disease valiantly for nearly ten years, although it had metasticized to her bones -- ribs, spine and skull. She rarely complained, but one day in March of 2002, she commented that she had a horrible headache. Forty-eight hours later, she lay in a hospital bed -- the victim of a catastrophic stroke.
With her only child, her baby sister and her grandchildren by her side, the life support was removed. Ten days later, she left this world and went to be with the man she loved so dearly.
Eighty-nine years ago today, my dearest friend -- my grandmother was born. I miss her still. I think I always will.
2 comments:
She would have enjoyed reading that post. Sounds like an awesome person.
I know how dear your Grandma was to you. I know she would be very proud of you and loves you dearly.
Hugs, Lauren.
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