Thread: what to do.
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Old 12-21-2003, 02:14 AM   #17 (permalink)
wry1
Loser
 
Location: Far too far from my Angel....
My Grandmother had been given 6 months - a little over 3 years before she finally passed away (this past Christmas Eve, actually - so it's going to be a bit strange this coming Wednesday). But I moved back to Michigan, spent a good amount of time with her...not every day, but every week I was there for the better part of an afternoon...and she was happy for the time we had.

Like most everyone has pointed out: it's the time you spend with someone that's important, not how long it's been since the last time. Go to her, give her (and you) a chance to fix things up.

Reading the replies you've gotten so far, I find myself reminded of something a dear friend of my family said to me once. She had lost her daughter at the age of 22 or so (I was quite young at the time and while knowing the girl in question, didn't know a lot about her). In fact, the whole family had gone for a picnic on a beautiful spring day when she collapsed from a massive coronary episode - evidently, her heart just shredded (kind of like what happened to John Ritter's Aorta). There was grief, there was loss, but through it all her mother and father were steadfast in their belief that of all the ways she could have left this world, it was good that she was with those she loved, in a place she loved, doing what she truly enjoyed.

Try to give some of that to your Grandma, okay?

As for how to cope with the losses you've experienced so far, many local Hospice centers have programs to help those left behind deal with the loss. Of course, you could do what my family does: we take the time to celebrate the joyous moments that we experienced either with or because of the departed. Primarily, what each of us does is recall some moment with whomever has left us that was either funny, pleasant or otherwise stood out in our memory. It's a little difficult at first (especially if you haven't done this before), but quickly turns into a mood-improving act after just a few recollections.

My best wishes are with your Grandma, you, and your family.
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