The Joy of Sneezing

Today marks the one year anniversary of my Grandma Graham's (and dear friend's) passing on from this world and in to a place far greater.

My grandma was an extraordinary woman. She always encouraged me in my love of writing and of music, two things that bring such joy to me. I examine my life today and know that it would not be nearly as fulfilled had it not been for her strong influence.

I watched my grandma's body slowly be taken over by Parkinson's Disease. It was over a course of some twenty plus years, but the amazing thing was that her mind stayed extremely sharp until perhaps the last couple of months.

As I watched her shaking hand try to get her fork up to her mouth, I thought how miserable her life must be. She couldn't button up her shirts or her bras anymore and no more necklaces with the little clasps that she loved. She was stuck inside now and needed someone nearby almost twenty-four/seven. 

She needed someone to assist her while she used the bathroom, yet humbled herself in doing so.

We literally had to scrape pureed food between her jittering teeth and the top of the spoon to get nutrients into her body.

In the midst of all my feeling sorry for her, I happened to sneeze. 

My grandma looked at me with a dreamy smile and asked, "Don't you just love to sneeze? I've never understood those people who try to hold their sneezes in; it's really fun to sneeze." 

And that's when I realized, the human spirit can lose all things, but if they let go of their sense of joy and gratitude, life becomes toilsome. 

My grandma held on to that truth with trembling hands.

Today I remember not her infirmities, but her strength and dignity.

I hope your day is full of the joy of sneezing and all of life's other little wonders.

Just one of those days

Today, I am feeling rather slothful. I want to lie on the couch and eat fattening foods while I watch HGTV. It was just one of those days where I couldn't get motivated.

I did, however, go on a bike ride to the bank with Graham in tow...and then I realized from the big sign on the window that it was, in fact, Columbus Day. As a side note, the tellers at the bank are very friendly when I go through the drive-thru on my bicycle.

After dinner, I ate the kids' sour patch kids that I told them they couldn't have because it would give them cavities (don't feel too sorry for them; they didn't eat their dinner, but I did eat mine...and they were asleep by this time). But there were no red ones! Only yellow and green. That's when I knew it was just time to throw in the towel and call it a day.

Tomorrow: a day full of new adventures...

Good night, everyone.