Love of a Lifetime

I received a card from my Grandmother in yesterday's mail. She was congratulating me on my recent completion of the BBA program. She sent me money, which all Grandparents do, but what made this so special to me, was that she did this all on her own. In my Grandparent's marriage, my Grandmother took care of the home and the children and my Grandfather took care of bring in the money and paying the bills. My Grandmother never learned how to balance a checkbook or even write checks! Every birthday card or check that I received was always in my Grandfathers handwriting.

A few years ago, my Grandfather came very close to passing away, after the scare pasted, he insisted that she set down with him every month to pay the bills, balance the checkbook and learn about all the details that he had always been responsible for. She was very slow to learn, but finally a few months ago, they set her up with her very own checking account and she has been working on managing her own money.

The check that she wrote me was from her very own checking account and the card was written and signed by her alone!

This is a strange feeling for me. I feel proud of her. Proud that she has been able to learn something that is like a complete second nature for me. She is learning to be more self sufficient and should be able to care for herself if/when she is on her own.

My Grandparents will celebrate their 62nd wedding anniversary this year! They have been a part of each others lives for so long, that I am not sure that either of them would be able to function if the other passed on.

I went to the funeral for the wife of a very dear friend yesterday, Dover and his wife had been married for 43 years, and he is in so much pain that I feel tears welling up as I type this. I cried throughout the service, and at the conclusion, Dover headed down the center aisle to hug Smug-Hub, they both broke down in tears. Dover then hugged me and kept apologizing for his tears.

I know that death is a part of life, and I truly hope to spend the next 43 or 62 years loving Smug-Hub as much as my Grandparents love each other or Dover and Dolores loved each other. I know that I am going to have to morn the loss of both of my sets of Grandparents and probably both of my parents and maybe even Smug-Hub before I will leave this earth and I don't know if I am strong enough to do it....