Celebrating Meme June 30th 2013

I was dreading that "phone call" but woke up every morning thinking to myself, "oh I bet Meme is upset that she woke up" but I was happy to get to call her on her phone just "one more time." Even if she could not respond, I would make sure to tell her how much I loved her. 

Sunday I did just that. I woke up and I remember mom saying not today, Hospice said she's got some time. And I remember thinking that I was happy to get to call her that "one more time." I didn't call because I usually waited for mom to get there. I will never forget the 12:45p (Ca.time) call I got on this day....I felt like my heart had stopped just hearing my mom's faint voice at that very moment. 

 I would give anything to hold her hand and hear her voice; hear her ask about my day or the kids. Ask who won in one of their games the night before. Check in on Eric and his travels. See what Mela was wearing or doing new. I can hear her voice in my head daily and I can't get her off my mind as my day goes about. We speak of her often around here especially during dinner when that use- to- be "our" time to call her..... 

But I know in my heart that Meme had a good life. She lived life and loved everyone of us. She was so involved with everything we did it's hard not to be able to call and tell her some "Good News". 

 As my mom put it.... "For weeks I've known her body would soon depart" but for 9 weeks we had her back to herself, happy talking for long periods of time over the phone and enjoying life.. walking again with her walker and even taking a Tai Chi class. I thought for sure I would come back this Summer and sit and have a nice lunch with her again at her place. 

I know that life doesn't last forever, but for some people you just can't help but wish it did! I miss her so very much, but I promised to keep her memory alive in this household. They say Mela looks just like her when she was little. Well, little Miss Mela Bliss.... you have some big shoes to fill, but in your own way-of coarse!!!!

 My mom and I sitting in Meme's apartment for the last time without her. I slept on that couch many times. The last time I was there, I barely slept. I thought that was the end....but I'll never forget the memories of sitting on this couch with my sister, then the boyfriends, then the husbands, then all the Great grandkids..talking, drinking, eating, fighting, laughing... It's where we sat when we went over to her house. 
 I know all these "Things" were just "things"....but they also held a lot of memories that I will always "Remember." 

 My girlfriend, Kim and I decided we were going to find the old house that I remember so well. Going over there every weekend and the holidays. It's now for sale. but I remember this yard. It was fun hearing the stories my parents had about this house too. That house was a "Beast"!!

Last Summer...... June 2012

 Some mornings or afternoons, I step outside on my front porch, this white butterfly flies around me. I swear. I've never seen it before *unless I've never payed attention. And I feel like it's her spirit saying I'm here. I see ya.. I'm smiling. I love ya. I miss ya, Keep going! At least that's what I want to think. But I now look for it, sometimes wait for it----every time I open that door.  

I use to update this every single day for a while there because I knew that Meme would get up and go over to her computer and it brightened her day to see the California kids on here.... I'm coming back... slowly but surely!

Meme had a beautiful wake and Catholic service-- all her family and friends came out to pay their respects. They had great stories to tell of her past and present. Her Monarch Landing friends are really going to miss her too as she was very involved in that "Community". She really loved that place!  But the one who will really miss her is her best Friend (of 77 years), Irene. and she said it best:

"Best Friends for Life and Eternity" may you save a seat on your right hand side for me........."