Saturday, March 15, 2008

A Book of Love

When my Granddad passed away 12 years ago, Grannee was more than devastated.

These two were the world's greatest lovers and had been honeymooning for more than 64 years. Suddenly, he was gone. Literally, her OTHER HALF was ripped from her and she felt helpless, hopeless and beyond alone.

She immediately moved in with my mom and step-dad where she was extremely well cared for, but nothing, of course, could take the place of her Dear George. Who could even try?

She even refused to sleep in a full sized bed because it felt too big without him spooned up behind her.

Now, Grannee and I have always had a very special and unique relationship that I cherish to this day. I am her namesake. Her "Dolly," as she used to call me. Gran and I related on a level that I can't explain and won't dare to try. When she lost her Love, all I wanted was to make the pain and loneliness stop, but realistically, who could? All I could do was remind her how much I loved her and all she was to me. She was such a profound influence on my life but I couldn't always be there at her side to remind her. I had a life of my own to attend to and knew that as time passed, it would get harder and harder for her to remember all the things I told her in our precious stolen moments together so... I decided to write her a book. A book of love that she could turn to whenever she needed to remember.

Grannee passed away on April 21st of 2006; just two weeks shy of the 10 year anniversary of when Granddad left us. Ten years without the love of her life she had spent over half a century doing life with. Wow. I can't even begin to imagine how hard that was for her.

At her memorial service, the minister read passages from my book as examples of the effect she had on me and every other person with whom she ever came in contact. (Not to mention what being around them as a couple would do to people! They were absolutely amazing... anyway) He approached me after the service and said I should publish the book. That it would mean a lot to people... at the very least, for my family.

It struck me as rather funny since it is such an intensely personal document. Who else would care about my relationship with Gran?

Well, I never got it "published" to print, but after nearly two years of sitting on it, I decided that maybe here was a good place to put it out to the world.

It's long. 37 pages even, so be forewarned. If you choose to tackle this undertaking, you will be peering into some of the most intimate thoughts and feelings I have shared with one of the single most important people to my very existence. But it is the product of so much unconditional love and encouragement that it doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of all she was to and did for me and who I have become... and continue to become.

So, with that said, I present for your perusal, "A Book Of Love."


Click on each image to see it at full, actually readable, size.





































5 comments:

Angelina said...

I can't even imagine what it must be like to have such a great relationship with a grandma. Your book of love is a truly sweet tribute.

Anonymous said...

Just beautiful Angeleen. An added note on the "sleeping in a twin bed. For the first 6 weeks she was with us, she insisted in sleeping on the sofa. When I asked why she was so insistant on that, "because it makes me feel like your little daddy is behind me." Referring of course to the back of the sofa. And...she had a broken pelvis during this time too
! But, she finally accepted a twin bed in a bedroom because she was afraid she was embarressing me to have people think she HAD to sleep on the sofa. Bless her dear little heart.
I sure do miss you Mom.
Thank you again for all you were to all of us.
Your "Baby" Kathleen

Wendy said...

Angeleen, that is just beautiful! It took me awhile to read. I can see how much time and effort went into it.

I really think you should consider having it made into a book (maybe for your daughters). Blurb looks pretty cool for that sort of thing. You've already done the hard part of scanning the pages.

Lisa said...

I really want to read this, but haven't had the time to sit down and go through it. I think it is a lovely tribute to your grandma.

Richie Designs said...

I don't have time to read it right now - but I can just tell it's lovely and of course will make me cry.