Grandma Betty

My Grandma Betty passed away today at the ripe old age of 90 something. As I mentioned in a previous post, this was very much anticipated but it still is sad to see her coming to an end. This last season of her life has not had the quality of life I would have wanted for her but she had a wonderful life for her first 80 years. Here are some photos of my grandma and somethings I will always remember about her.

Here's my Grandma on her wedding day. My grandparents managed to celebrate over 65 years together before she passed:

Here's one of my favorite pictures of my grandparents. I snapped it as they were leaving my Uncle Ron's wedding. I remember my mom and my aunt saying "Hurry, hurry, get that shot, we'll probably never get her in a dress again."

Here is a lovely needlework she did for my when I was very small. It looks like one of those little wooden boxes you can hang on the wall with all sorts of little nooks to set your knick-knacks. It also includes a great picture of my grandpa out in their cherry orchard in Cove, OR.

Some things I'll always remember:

- Grandma was born on the "Ides of March." She used to always say that's why you need to beware of them!

- Grandma LOVED Lawrence Welk, I bet I could recite every episode just from watching it with her on Saturday evenings growing up.

- Grandma made great pickles! Unfortunately, we didn't get all the details of the recipe before her mind started to slip. My cousin Jana and my Aunt Carol have spent countless hours trying to recreate "Grandma's Pickles".

- Grandma loved musicals! I think she owned everyone ever made.

My Aunt Carol has been living with my Grandma fulltime since I graduated from college and moved away . . . almost 4 years, now! It's been such a blessing that she was willing to take on that challenge. I know this transition will be the most difficult for her. As I was thinking of my Grandma and my Aunt Carol, a song from My Fair Lady came to mind. I think this is a very fitting tribute to my grandma who loved music and my aunt who cared for her for so long.

I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face

I've grown accustomed to her face,

She almost makes the day begin.

I've grown accustomed to the tune she whistles night and noon.

Her smiles, her frowns, her ups, her downs

Are second nature to me now;

Like breathing out and breathing in.

I was serenely independent and content before we met;

Surely I could always be that way again and yet -

I've grown accustomed to her looks,

Accustomed to her voice,

Accustomed to her face.

I've grown accustomed to her face,

She almost makes the day begin.

I've gotten used to hear her say "Good Morning" everyday.

Her joys, her woes, her highs, her lows

Are second nature to me now.

Like breathing out and breathing in.

I'm very glad that she's a woman and so easy to forget,

Rather like a habit one can always break and yet -

I've grown accustomed to the trace of something in the air -

Accustomed to her face.