When I was a little boy, we used to go visit my great-grandmother at her house.  Every morning we were there, she'd make us hotcakes and they were the best damned things I ever ate.  Melted in your mouth, or at least that's my memory of them... they might have been horrible.  I know this, however... no other pancakes on this Earth were ever made with more love.

As I write this, my beloved great-grandmother, whom we call GG, has just died.

Wow.  That feels so final to see it written like that.  And that's just what it is.  Final.  at least for her, in this existence.

My great-grandmother was 92.  She turned 60 the year I was born, and was quite active and vibrant until about ten years ago.  She loved music and dancing and taught me the Charleston and Jitterbug when I was just a kid.  She used to watch what she ate and had bizarre beauty routines that kept her skin soft and supple, even up until the end.  She was a beautiful lady and intended to stay that way.  I have never, ever known anybody who took so long in the bathroom to get ready for bed.  She loved dolls, Barbie in particular.  Coca-Cola was her drink of choice.  When I was a kid, we used to read the large-type edition of Reader's Digest and discuss the articles.  Every time I went over to see her, she'd work on my teddy bear, making clothes for him to cover his damaged body.  She was smart and sweet and one-of-a-kind and more than a little crazy and how lucky am I to have had that in my life?

Last November, I got a phone call that she had fallen, apparently suffered some sort of stroke and broken her pelvis or hip or something.  They didn't know much and had taken her in to the hospital.  I knew then and there that it was the beginning of the end.

In the past eight months, she's been in a nursing home for two brief visits, in several hospitals and one very evil rehabilitation hospital.  We stopped all that madness about three months ago and brought her home to die peacefully and with dignity.  I feel good about the last few months of her life, because I know she was comfortable.

But that's over now, and as much as I wished she could be here forever, I knew she couldn't.  Those aren't the rules... people die.  And it sucks.

I really just want some of her hotcakes right now.

Tim, I am so sorry. Your GG was beautiful.

My deepest sympathies. She was quite a beautiful woman.

Sorry to hear about your GG.

That's a truly cool picture of her at the beach, what year is what?

*another big hug* I'm really sorry :(

It was good to see you today though. I hope you're able to get some of that relaxation and break you came down here for.

So sorry to hear it, Tim. My best wishes to your family.

I'm so sorry, sweetie. Take care.

That's a beautiful set of stories to remember your GG, Tim. Thank you for sharing, and Im sorry for your loss.

Much Aloha to you and your family, Tim. I hope that someday we'll all touch somebody's life the way GG touched yours.

:-( Anyone who makes clothes for a beloved stuffed animal is spectacular in my book!

Tim, I am so sorry. Writing it does make it somehow real, doesn't it.

And my GG also taught me how to Charleston -- some things you just never forget.

I'm very sorry for your loss, but I'm glad to see you have such a positive and uplifing perspective about it.

wow, 92! that is incredible. we would all by lucky to make it that far.

my grama passed in 96 at the age of 68, and like you i had so much love for her. i will never forget her unconditional love, or her graceful spirit, or the sound of her laugh.

may the memories of GG stay with you forever, and may you meet her in the next life.