That Which Was Our Delight.

It's a strange feeling when you lose someone you love. 

No matter how prepared you are, 

it still hurts. 

For those of you who don't know,

I lost my grandmother on Friday.

And it's been harder than I expected.

I had been anticipating this for a long time.

In my mind I was prepared, because I knew it was close.

She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2000. 

And it's been a battle ever since. 

At the age of 10,

 I began watching my beautiful Granny slowly fade away. 

Her pain and suffering were long. 

She has been set free from that.

Even though I knew it was only a matter of time.

Even though she was no longer the grandmother I knew. 

Even though she has been set free from suffering.

This was the first time she died. 

And knowing all of those things didn't make that part any easier.

Sadly, the majority of the memories I have of her are after her diagnosis, 

after she had begun to fade.

There are still some cherished memories tucked away in my mind. 

She was the gentlest and kindest person.

Never did she get upset. 

I only ever saw her get truly upset once.

And that was when I spilled a glass of water ALL over her. 

And even then, it only took about 30 seconds for her to move from frustration to laughter.

Never did she raise her voice.

We were some crazy kids. 

We did some dumb stuff. 

And she didn't care.

Never did she scold or disapprove.

No matter what the issue, 

I always knew there was a big lap just waiting for me, 

down the street at Granny's house.

Most importantly to a child, 

Never did she say no. 

Granny was the queen of the word "okay."

Every Friday growing up was "Granny Day."

She would get all 7 grandchildren, 

load us up in her big van,

and we would go do whatever we could.

We went to museums, 

and parks, 

and once a month, 

we went to the mall. 

"Granny Day" eventually lead to "Granny Land."

That's what her home became after many a "Granny Day."

Just to give you a small taste of what I'm talking about, 

Granny had a pool,

and we had a canoe, 

so one day we decided we wanted to put the full-sized, aluminum canoe, in the pool,

what was Granny's response, 

"okay."

We could maybe go a foot and a half before we hit the wall.

But we didn't care.

She let us put the canoe IN the pool!

"Granny Land" was full of afternoons like that. 

Full of fun and laughter and joy and love.

Oh, and IBC Rootbeer and string cheese. 

The snack of champions. 

My grandmother was a woman known by her love. 

She let us play and have fun and be crazy kids, 

because she loved us.

She provided us with a place to find rest and comfort when needed, 

Joy and laughter when we wanted, 

And more memories than we could have ever dreamed of. 

Although at the time of her death she wasn't the grandmother that I knew. 

She was still the grandmother that I love. 

Genevieve Thomas will surely be missed by all who knew her.

Her unforgettable memories will never be forgotten.

And her example of love and joy will be displayed for all to see,

because she taught us how to love like her. 

“When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.”

- Kahlil Gibran