What an incredible day. I am going to have to keep this brief, because I just donâ??t have the emotion left in me to put this in any sort of long form.
I spent the weekend in Kansas, visiting my grandmother for her 94^th birthday. She took a spill a few weeks ago and was badly bruised and had to stay in the hospital for a week and then a rehab center for the past two weeks. It was so hard to see her there, the place was somewhat depressing. I kept looking around and most of the patients where very elderly, but didnâ??t seem like they were going to be rehabilitated. My grandmother didnâ??t belong there and that made me very sad. She is and has always been so full of life and positive; I was concerned that this place would bring her down.

The good news is that she gets to go home on Tuesday; she worked very hard in therapy and wants to go home. Aside from her poor hearing, she was the same person I have always known. Very sweet, giving, loving and full of life. I donâ??t know where she has found the energy, having lost her husband about 25 years ago.

Sheâ??s lived a perfect life and everyone that meets her loves her and feeds off of her energy and sense of well being. What at wonderful place to be in your life. Iâ??m so envious of her.

We got to celebrate her birthday around tons of extended family. Her kids (my aunts and uncles) are all amazing and so appreciative of her. There was such a great moment where she was sitting there, we had just divided up the birthday cake and one of her great, great grandchildren came up to her to get a bite of cake. Here you have a 94 year old giving a one year old a bite of cake and 5 generations passing from had to hand. It brought me to tears. It was a very emotional weekend.
I have been emotional every time I have left her for the last 10 years or so. Iâ??m afraid to say goodbye and Iâ??m afraid itâ??s the last time Iâ??m going to see her.

I spent most of yesterday and a couple hrs today just sitting next to her with my arm around her and holding her hand. Sheâ??s so sweet. Today, she kept asking if I was tired of holding her hand, I repeatedly said no. She pointed out that my leg must be tired from holding up her hand. I denied it and she pointed out that I was on my tip toes with my foot for over an hour. She was right. I was doing that so her hand wouldnâ??t have to hang down too far and be uncomfortable. So my leg was tired and shaking a little, but I just wanted to sit with her.

So finally the time came to say goodbye. I dread this as I have for the last 10+ years. Iâ??m saying goodbye, looking into her eyes, giving her as strong of a hug as I can without hurting her frail body and she asks me â??Will you please be a pall bearer for me?â?? I lost it. I couldnâ??t believe what I was hearing. It was sad and wonderful all at the same time. She is doing so well but sheâ??s also so at peace with herself, her life and her future. What an amazing woman.

Of course I had a good cry all the way to the airport, but everything felt very peaceful. It was a pleasure to drive out of there and look at the snow covered hills. I love this place; I love my grandmother and family. I have this feeling sheâ??s ready to let goâ?¦ and she deserves it. What a wonderful life.