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That was beautiful.

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((spock))

Aw, spock - she sounds so fabulous and funny. How wonderful that she lived so long and was so sharp and amused right up to the end. Big hugs to you, I know you'll miss her.

Normally with my hands

Some people are so strong that there's nothing that can put them down.

I'm glad your grandmother was one of them.

RIP

That made me laugh out loud. Good on her.

((spock))

Nice story (^_^).

spock, your story reminded me of my wonderful maternal grandmother. I spent a lot of summers with that crazy gal.

My beloved grandma loved her coffee, cigarettes, scotch, rhine wine, and cursing. Also, she was a racist and we argued about that often, but she was getting over that before the end. One of my regrets is that she only got to see her great-grandson, but never her great-granddaughter. My comfort is that I'm sure she'd approve of both.

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for your grandmother.
Hugs and sympathies for you.

I'm glad she was so clear-headed and of good humor a couple years ago. At the age of 94, she had quite the impressive life span.

I will be 40 this summer and have no living grandparents as of about 5 years ago. The next step will be losing my parents, and I don't feel prepared at all.

Condolences. 94 is quite a life. And she had one of those names - Vera - that you don't hear much any more, except as the names of ladies born before WW2.

The next step will be losing my parents, and I don't feel prepared at all.

I don't think you can ever be prepared for this. I lost both of mine when I was 33. It can just come out of nowhere really.

That's a great story and it's great that she managed to come out with a quip like that at such a time.

What a fantastic response! And cool to see that they are still in there, even when they're standing on the doorstep of whatever comes next.

Seconding gomichild's comment on being prepared - no such thing. My mom was in a nursing home for 2 years before she went. We knew it was coming all along, but that still didn't fully help us brace for the inevitable.

I didn't know either set of my grandparents - sounds like you had a great grandmother, spock!

Spock, that made me laugh out loud, too.

I am reminded of my mother's exchange with her therapist early in their therapeutic relationship:

Therapist: Pat, I don't know if I can deal with your negativity.

Mom: Well, then, can you suggest a more qualified therapist who can?

They got along famously after this. Seriously.

Spock, one of my life goals is to be an old lady just like your grandma.

Great story.

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GREAT story, spock. I'm sorry for your trouble, but glad you have good memories.

My own grandmother was hospitalized briefly several months before she passed away. She was on a breathing machine for a while.

When the tube was removed she was naturally hoarse and unable to speak. She immediately asked for paper and pen and wrote: "I'm thirsty. Can I have some whisky?"

That was my ol' "Gam."

"Normally with my hands" made me snorfle coffee up my nose.

I'm sorry for your loss, spock. That's a great memory, though, and I bet there are lots more like it.

(((spock)))

spock, i'm sorry for your loss, although it sounds like you are focusing now on celebrating your grandmother's life, which is wonderful. from your description, she seems like she was someone i would have loved to meet.

Spock, I've got a similar one you can share with your family, if you like. My great-great aunt Edith died when she was in triple digits, had to have a hysterectomy when she was 97. 97 years old, and she had a hysterectomy. Physically traumatic, to say the least.

My father goes to see her in the hospital after the surgery. He sees her frail, time-weathered frame wrapped in translucent crepe paper skin, just lying there in bed and sleeping soundly. You can barely see her breathing under the blanket. He walks up to her bed, lays a hand on the mattress and looks down at her, so full of love for this sweet old woman with thick braids down to her waist, this tough old bird who helped raise him. He's near tears, and he closes his eyes and begins to pray for her.

That's when he felt her brittle little hand close over his and give it a firm squeeze. He opened his eyes, and there's his great aunt, 97 years old and just come out of recovery from major surgery, looking him square in the eye.

"Well," she says, as if she'd just lost her car keys, "I guess this means I can't have kids anymore."

So sorry for your loss, spock. Your grandmother sounds like a great lady.

Sorry you lost your granma but thanks for the story spock. That was wonderful. And thanks to everyone else for your stories.

What an awesome dame! (((spock)))

(((spock)))
That story made me laugh out loud, then share it with my husband. What a great attitude! I'm sorry for your loss, though, but it sounds like she left a legacy of great memories.

Also, middleclasstool, that was great as well!

Spock, you come from good stuff - guess you won the genetics lottery with a grandmom like that. Thanks for telling the story so we can share in your sense of loss.

(((spock)))

Thank you, everyone.