My Grandmother

My grandmother, Joan Keaton, is the strongest person that I know. She can take a situation and turn it around in a heart beat. She loves to quilt and make special things for the grand kids and great grand kids. She loves to cook. She cooks fabulous foods. Whether it be chicken stew or raisin filled cookies (my favorites) it all tastes wonderful when it's Grammy's food. She can carry on a conversation for hours whether it's in English or French. She has never driven a car and never will. She doesn't like to leave her house much so she's always just a phone call away. She has a wonderful smile and a hearty laugh. She has a warm embrace and a sweet kiss. She can make even the strangest stranger feel at home in her house. She used to smoke. She quit about 17 years ago. The only reason she quit was because she had emphysema and had to.

My Grammy Jo died yesterday from emphysema. She was such a strong woman. However as much as she wanted her independence, she had to rely on many people, especially towards the end. My Grammy Jo was a wonderful woman who took things in stride. She had so many surprises in her life. Some good and some not so good. But she excepted most because we're all family and that's what we do. She has taught me so much in my life. She has taught me to forgive and forget and to just move on. She has taught me to accept things I can't change. She has taught me that even though someone does something wrong once, they can change and they can make themselves better. She has taught me that even though our family is messed up, it's still family and we need to hold them closer than we ever did before. She taught me to stand up for myself. She taught me to stand up for what I believe and to protect what is mine. She taught me to be me. That has made me the person I am today.

I love you Grammy Jo. I will miss our long talks on the phone. You were a wonderful mentor in my life. Thank you for being part of my life. Thank you for listening to me when I needed to vent about family. Thank you for everything.

Although I will miss my Grandmother dearly, I know that she is in heaven with God and all the other people who have passed before her. She is dancing to God's music and having a wonderful time with everyone in Heaven.