Hi all. It has been a while.
This will be the final post on Phyllis. Sorry bitches.
Gram passed away on St. Patrick's Day and it just doesn't feel right to keep on posting here. However, I will eventually start somethin' else and hope you will follow me there.
People have asked sista if I was planning do a final post and while I feel strange doing so, I owe it to Gram and her followers.
I am not used to the fact that she's not here and I randomly cry at the thought. My aunt put it best when she said she thought she'd live forever. I did too.
I had the honor of giving Gram's eulogy. I hate public speaking more than slow mall walkers. I somehow managed to get through it. I even looked at the crowd! That part was easy because I can't see for shit. Anyway. Here's to Gram:
Gram
was the strongest woman I know. She had
to overcome many obstacles and hardships throughout her life. When she was just 29 years old, her husband
died and she raised three daughters on her own while working many jobs to
support them. Education was very
important to Gram with each daughter going on to become successful college
graduates with careers in healthcare and education.
Not
only did Gram raise a family by herself in the 50’s, a time when it wasn’t
typical for women to work outside the home, she was a three-time cancer
survivor. I remember her complaining if we had more
French fries than her on our plates at Friendly’s, but never once about
treatments or the many doctor appointments.
Gram
was always there for me, for us. Irish
dancing, soccer games, basketball games, graduations, spelling bees, first day
of school, last day of school, fifth day of school. Every day.
She was there for us. My dad
liked to joke that she would drop off a pencil just so she could see us. She loved her family more than anything and
we all loved her.
My
favorite thing about Gram was her sense of humor. She made me laugh more than anyone. There are too many stories to tell, but I
will touch on the memories that stick out in my mind.
Her
love of driving.
Trips
to the Base.
Her
gourmet goulash. The cooking channel is
still asking for the recipe. Tomato soup, browned beef and macaroni elbows.
Her
love of gran crackers and steadfast denial of her addiction. I always told her I’d be her sponsor.
Sleepovers
at her house with my sister and her bed slats breaking. And her belly laughter and teeth falling out.
Her
Irish pride. I would go to her house to
pick her up for a breakfast date and the house would be shaking. The Irish Hour was on.
Death
is so final and the thought that Gram isn’t here anymore is overwhelming. It is so hard to believe that I won’t walk
into her room and hear her ask “Got any candy?”
Love however, isn’t final. Our
love for Gram will live on. I think of
how hard it is for all of us that she’s no longer here and wonder how we’ll
survive. Then I think, Phyllis would survive this and I know that she instilled
some of that strength in all of us so that we can make it. She had such a
devout faith and it’s her faith that helps me know I will see her again. I think that when my time is about to come
she will be waiting in heaven with a gran cracker in hand watching a Red Sox game. She will say, “It’s time to come home honey
bunch.”
I’m
very sad that Gram never made it to Ireland, the home of her favorite patron
saint. I think I speak for the family,
when I say it brings us all great comfort that she held on for thirteen days
and passed on St. Patrick’s Day. We like
to think Tom was in a Cadillac, a car Gram always wanted with a full tank of
gas waiting to embark on their new adventure together.
May
the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields and,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields and,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
I
love you Gram. Bye now.
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