These two stunningly beautiful people are my grandparents. I have been thinking about them a lot lately. This was the picture that was taken on their wedding day. Shortly thereafter, my grandfather went off to fight in World War II. What a beginning.
It will be 4 years this February since my grandfather died, and a few more than that since my grandmother developed Alzheimers. Although time has passed and many, many things have changed, my life continues to be impacted by them both.
My grandfather stood almost 2 feet taller than my grandmother, but they were the perfect match. She was dainty and cute, he was charming and handsome. They loved each other. I mean, really loved each other. I remember as a little girl watching them and thinking, "I want to be in love like that when I'm old."
They went everywhere together. They always held hands. He bought her teddy bears and wrote her sweet little cards for no reason at all.
My grandmother played the piano beautifully. Self taught, playing entirely by ear. She would only play when she thought no one was listening because she was very shy, but my grandfather would sneak into the living room and sit quietly to listen.
They were devoted. They were solid. They were each other's best friend.
Saturday I went with my mom to their house and found an old shoe box full of pictures and letters from their life together. Sweet pictures of my grandfather with my mom on his knee and their golden lab sitting next to them. 57th Wedding Anniversary cards where my grandfather wrote cute things like, "Let's go another 57, what do ya say?" and stories my grandma wrote about her favorite dress as a little girl and the cold winters in Iowa. They were wonderful people.
My grandmother has been plagued by a disease that has robbed her of so much. It has been heartbreaking to watch her struggle to remember people and memories that were once so precious to her. But even now--when she can't remember the name of the man she was married to for almost 60 years--I know it hasn't left her. I know she still knows how much he loved her. You can see it. You can feel it when you're with her. What they had was unbreakable. It's the most amazing thing.
I look forward to the day that they will meet again. Without illness or death to get in their way. Just the two of them...forever. That will be a great day.
5 comments:
That WILL BE A GREAT DAY indeed! I want to meet them and hang out with them! They have to be wonderful to be your grandparents. I love that he bought her teddy bears and cards...and i love that there were cards in a shoe box for each year of their life together. Amazing. Thanks for sharing the stories and the beautiful picture.
This was a beautiful post. Very touching.
Okay, go ahead and make me cry. See if I care. They are beautiful. I might just have to share my grandparents wonderful story sometime. So much to learn.
big lump in my throat, manda. you tell it so well.
xoxo
what a nice post, manda. made me proud to be a doyle. you're a woman of beautiful words.
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