Small things, Great Love

Back at mom's computer again, this time having just returned from my Grandpa George's memorial service. Beautiful, eccentric, and so grandpa george. People told stories of how they knew and loved him--as a simple dude, quick to smile, devoted to his family, church,...and his truck driving. I will always know him as the old guy who loved basking in the sun, eating spam and mayo on wonderbread, and also as the grump who growled at me if I was too whiny. To be honest, he didn't seem like a superhero to me, but at this memorial, the stories and love flowed, glowing of moments when his simple smile, firm handshake, and quick jokes warmed hearts and welcomed strangers into friendship.

I remember over and over the quote by Mother Theresa: "We can only do small things with great love." At the end of life, its not the big things that we remember (at least not for most of us) but the small, quirky stories where we felt loved and happy to be alive. Small things, like driving a bus full of kids to camp, or greeting people at church, go a long way to awaken people to the love that is all around. I'm thankful for his spam-loving, grumpy-smiling, pie-lovin' self.

Peace, Gramps.

3 weeks later, back "home" again

So, here I am--sitting again at my mother's computer where I wrote my last post several weeks ago. Last time it was on the brink of my newest adventure--moving to Cali. Now, I'm back unexpectedly to be with family as we mourn the loss and celebrate the life of my Grandpa George. He passed away and into freedom from Parkinsons and dementia on Sunday morning.

Life is a strange and beautiful thing.

The last 3 weeks in Marin (County, North part of the "Bay Area") have subtly pushed me to recognize that I'm on my own now. I have officially LEFT HOME. On top of that, the process of leaving has been made more dramatic by the fact that I'm about to move into another home with my life partner to start our own family unit. My psyche has been encouraged to do some major growing up at warp speed. And now, I'm back to the home of my youth, testing out my new grown up legs. They're a bit shaky and I'm not sure how to use them appropriately...maybe I'm like a bobbling toddler just learning to walk on her own. As confusing as it may be at times, I'm loving it. I feel totally blessed to be living in the Bay Area, enjoying a low key job (part time nannying) and anticipating marrying my one and only beloved.

And what about the fact that I'm in this new stage of life when my grandfather's last one just ended? Its a strange, ironic and beautiful combination. And I suppose that my grandpa has really just entered into the next stage of life. I'm reminded of "The Circle of Life" by Elton John on the Lion King Soundtrack (amazing! ask me about how I memorized the whole thing when I was 8...) Because certainly it is just a circle of life and death, and now my grandpas energy is floating around this place in some other form, infinitely blissful, and we've got a jammin' soundtrack of drums, and lions, and elephants to keep us dancing in time.