My Grandma Ellersick passed away this weekend. Yes, my second grandma to die in a little over a month. They are all gone now. All grandparents. My grandpas passed away in the same fashion sixteen years ago. One died and a month later the other one died. A domino effect.
I have been truly blessed in the grandparent department. Three amazing grandmas and two unbelievable grandpas. My Nana was technically my step-grandma but she was as much a true grandparent to me as all of the others and I loved her just as much. I was also blessed with fantastic and dynamic great-grandparents many of whom I also knew. A perk of being the oldest grandchild. I miss them all.
But this loss... this is the end of an era. The end of what has gone before and what is to come is unknown. I have yet to truly process that she is gone and what that means and what the future ramifications will be. All I know is that her death is significant and needs to be recognized.
For Mom/Grandma/Granny
Lemon drops and lipstick
Green punch and s'mores
Bonfire smoke and pine trees
Make up my memories
Sunlight dancing on the lake
The gentle lap of waves
That dark and silky water
Where memories were made
Of echos and of blue jays,
Fragrant lilacs, a store bell trills
Starry nights of swimming
And delicate bluebells
The sultry scent of concord grapes
The rain on old tin roofs
The prickle of a pine cone
Road trips of my youth
Snow Creek's rushing waters
And moss and rocks and earth
Books and books and books on books
Astonishing to see
The clicking of her typewriter keys
Post office Box 503
The Chicken Chop and IGA
The backyard where I used to play
Swimsuits dripping on the floor
The slamming of the outside door
An icy pop from Grandpa's store
and laughter ringing even more.
Diving through an inner tube
Midnight floats in an old canoe
Pansies planted in a boat
Delighting in a rootbeer float.
Lake water runs through my veins
Thick sawdust in my blood
Stories told of days of old
And faces dear to me.
Oh hey you guys...
You're out too far!
We sure love you...
We will see you soon...
Lots of love...
She smiles at me
With her sharp brown eyes that see
An era ends.
She meant so much to me.
I love you!
