In Passing

Doesn't she look like a movie star? I always thought this photo of her was ridiculously beautiful. This is my grandmother, Ada. She passed away early this morning. It goes without saying that no blog post could do her life, or any human life, justice. She was a remarkable woman, who lived through the Great Depression, who raised three children despite, at times, grinding poverty and the isolation of the farm, who had an astounding work ethic, and who had an endearing and sometimes even mischievous sense of humor. I will miss her, but I am relieved that she no longer has to live within the confines of a body that had stopped working. Losing her independence as she grew older, because of growing older, was very difficult for her.

Sometimes I get exhausted/annoyed/overwhelmed by my responsibilities as a mother, by the fact that people depend on me for so much. But, truth be told, I much prefer this to the alternative - to depending on others to care for me. I know Ada did, too. But she doesn't have to deal with that any more. So I guess that's a good thing.