Lost my last grandparent at 2:15 this morning.

Jun 6, 2017, 9:46 AM

My dad and his brother and sister were with her in Columbia. I woke up from a dead sleep, eyes wide open, about 10 seconds before my dad texted me at 2:21.

She has always been the matriarch of the family. Strongest-willed woman I have ever met, and somebody you simply did not cross. She whooped me more than a few times as a boy. I always knew when I was in trouble because it was always my first and middle name in "that voice". For as strong and ornery as she was my entire life, I could never imagine this day. But the last few years have made us realize how cruel age can be, as we watched her mind slip away. Even a few years ago, she barely knew names, and vaguely recognized faces outside of her own children. The last few weeks have been mostly unconscious, with occasional waking moments and a clear word here and there. Age ravages the mind.

She spent most of the last year in a nursing home after my angel of an aunt finally couldn't manage her by herself any longer. She didn't like it there, and always asked to go home, to the house she lived in for 53 years in Columbia. Two weeks ago today, the staff finally transported her home.

I got to sit with her and hold her hand last weekend. She was in pain from an arm broken in 3 places, a wound on her leg, breast cancer, and everything else on the list that you can't fix on a 91 year old human. Her grip was tight, and even though she didn't really know who I was, I could see some comfort in her eyes. She was scared, and I've never seen her afraid of anything.

This is a relief for everybody. She's at peace now.

Rest easy, Grandmother.