On a personal note

My grandmother passed away this morning around 8:00 our time. The past few days she was in a state of sleep and the family had chosen not to go to any extrodinary measures (feeding tubes and such) so we knew it would be any day and really it was time. She has been unhappy the past few years and her health has been really poor the last few months.

So the unbelievable part of this story is about my older daughter, M. Grandma Eileen is somone M has met a handful of times in her life, usually for short 10-15 minutes visits. But we do talk about them and look at pictures, try and send a card a few times a year.... So certainly not someone around in our daily lives. As far as I know, M didn't know anything about Grandma being sick and I haven't mentioned her at all in the last little bit. All my calls with my mom have been after the girls were in bed..

So.... she comes down the stairs this morning at 7:00 (about 1 hour before grandma passed) and the first thing out of her mouth is "when I am grown up and have a baby, if it is a girl I will name her Eileen after my great grandma so I can remember her." And then she just progresses about her day as if nothing has happened. What a wonderfully sweet comment, and certainly makes you think of what made this come at that specific moment.

Please send good thoughts to my grandpa. He is 103 and has been with Grandma for so very long. His mental state has slipped this past year so there is some confusion. It will be tough on him and I think most of us believe this will be the final chapter for him. After being with someone for 70 years, it really is fitting for them to leave this world near the same time.