As was anticipated for some time, we lost my beloved grandmother during the night. She was 95. She'd lived through the influenza outbreak of 1918, saw FDR nominated for the presidency in person, and grew from a girlhood of some privilege to Depression farm wife and mother. She seemed to always roll with the punches in life (though not always without expressing exasperation!) and seemed to get stronger with each challenge she faced.
We shared a love for fabric and stitching, but one of the things I most valued in her and learned from her, was her sense that learning was never over. Five years ago, I was able to give her a special experience, seeing the moon through a telescope for the first time. At 90, she turned to me and said, "I have so much yet to learn."
Late in life she wrote of her belief in god, the value of hard work, the importance of loving family relationships, and so typical of this strong and inquisitive lady, "lastly, always to have a goal, something to strive for and tackle with enthusiasm. This is the reason of life - - the zest to work toward achieving a goal and anticipation of satisfaction in attaining it. Be always ready to accept new goals - - it makes life challenging."
That's so HER. And what I hope to be, too.
I'll be out of pocket for a week or so, spending time with the family, so the blog will be quiet for a short time.
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