Tea and Kate

Granny passed away this fall, in the comfort of her daughter’s loving care. Although in the end she didn’t recognize Abby, and was confused anew every day by the virus and pandemic conditions, she died peacefully, and had a very good life. We celebrated her, like we do everything this year, over Zoom. More than 100 people and families showed up.

The ceremony was well prepared and carefully organized by Sarah and Jonathan. The children (Topher, Kitty, Nat, Abby, Lydia) all spoke, as did the grandchildren, each for a single minute. Here is what I read.

Granny was a magical thinker.

She loved telling stories about history.
Quaker history and family history being the best two types. Dearie.
She would liberally add details of which she could never have known.
Precisely what the wife of a general had said
Where she had once stood,
or just how she felt.
It was a part of the story because
the story was better that way.
Because she wanted it to be true.
And so, for her, it was.

I saw this in our conversations about Tom, in the years after his death.
She would imagine forgiving Tom.
Imagine Tom coming back to her.
Imagine reclaiming Tom.
Tom was a part of her story because
Her story was better that way.
Because she wanted it to be true.
And so, for her, it was.

Thank thee, Granny. We love thee. And thee will stay with us.