My Grandma Robertson passed away on April 22, due to a bad heart. She had suffered a heart attack a little over a month ago. Grandma has had several heart attacks in her lifetime, and even open heart surgery. I wasn't sure what to think, but when I heard that she wasn't getting better but was getting worse, I packed up my bags and we took to Idaho as soon as we could. I think having been through a family death already, I realized the importance of those last conversations. They are ones you will never forget, and I wanted to be sure to have one with Grandma where she could respond back to me. I'm so glad we went. I spent time at her house with my Dad and Heather and then came back with Clint to visit. I didn't want to say goodbye. I think I've clung extra tight to her because she reminds me so much of my Mom, and looks like her. When I finally did leave I gave her a hug and whispered in her ear, "Us Judy kids sure do love you" to which she responded, "Well I sure do love you Judy kids."
I spent a lot of time over at my Grandma & Grandpa's house growing up. They used to babysit me while my Mom was driving bus. My cousin KayDee and I were reminiscing when we were little we would go into Grandma's room and put on one of her shirts for our nightgowns so we would 'have' to stay the night. :) My favorite shirt was her pink one with mini black polka dots. We would sleep in the extra bedroom and fall asleep to a fiber optic tree. It was magical. And we would always wake up to the smell of bacon and pancakes! And talk radio. :)
My brother Clint and I would make mud pies to no end outside. And Grandma's house was Clint's favorite place to booby trap me. They had a big sand pit in the back yard and Clint would dig a DEEP hole, and cleverly disguise it. Then he would either call me over to him so that I would run right into the hole, or we would play tag and he would jump over it while I was chasing him and I would fall in. We talked about these memories with Grandma last month and she laughed. She remembered well. She probably sat watching us from the window laughing her head off. :)
So many, many memories that I hold close to my heart. Randy's favorite memory of Grandma is the first time they met. It was Christmas time and I was bringing him home to 'meet the family' (we got married a year later). Grandma of course welcomed him with a great big bear hug and told him she had a present for him. She left and came back with a little square box. Randy opened it and what do you think was inside? You'll never guess. ..... a slinky. She then told Randy that "if this doesn't work out between the two of you I want that back" with a wink. Randy still has that slinky, it's in his end table by our bed. That night I remember he told me "you have the coolest grandma ever!" Haha. I know. That was so Grandma. She could say or do anything and it was cute.
Anyone that ever met Grandma immediately loved her. I thought it was so tender that the officiating Bishop at the funeral had a very hard time. It was obvious the impact that she had had on him. Grandma had a quick wit, was funny, smart, well educated, a hard worker, very patriotic, spiritual, energetic, outspoken, and loved everyone (except for Democrats, haha!). She said a stranger is just a friend she hadn't met yet.
The funeral was beautiful. All the granddaughters sang a medley of Grandma's 3 favorite songs: You are my Sunshine, Pine Trees in Heaven, and Home on the Range. I knew I wouldn't be able to do it, and I was right. I cried through the whole 1st song and was barely able to hold my composure for the last two. I don't do good at funerals. I especially have lots of memories with the song You are my Sunshine with my Grandma and my Mom. It just got me. But I know both Grandma and Mom are proud of me for trying. ;) Grandma was taken to the cemetery in the pony and wagon. We spent hours and hours taking the pony and wagon for rides around the neighborhood growing up. The wagon was appropriately decked out with patriotic do-dads, as she would say.
She will be greatly missed here, but I know she is where she wanted to be. Grandpa has been gone for almost 7 years. She once told me, "I hope he's still interested in this old broad." :) She was anxiously awaiting their reunion, I think. She also has a daughter; my mom, on the other side, and her granddaughter; my sister. Grandma was the last to go of her brothers and sister, too. That must have been one reunion! I'm so lucky to have had her as a grandmother. She has left quite a legacy. I love you Grandma!
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