A Labor of Love
Memaw and I weeks after her diagnosis
Anyone who knows me at all, knows the deep relationship my grandmother (Memaw) and I shared throughout my life. Memaw was a constant in my life amid everything else that seemed to change. She was there for school lunches, plays, homecoming, college, graduations and my wedding. Truly, she was a gift from God and I'm so thankful for the 29 years my life was blessed with her in it.
Tragically in 2005, Memaw was shockingly diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor and given less than six months to live. We savored every moment we had together with visits, calls, and heart-to-hearts I will never forget. Memaw was an avid writer and had many pen pals. A holiday never passed without one of her festive cards gracing my mailbox or just a letter detailing what was happening on the homefront. For my 29th birthday, I received my most prized letter from Memaw. The envelope adorned her notorious smiley stickers and sweet sayings as if it were no different from any letter she’d sent me. But, as I opened it, I knew that it was. It was her good bye, her final letter to me. She knew the tumor was growing and in time she would not be able to write at all, so she seized this opportunity to put on paper her final thoughts, advice and undying love for me in one very special letter.
For 20 minutes I read her recap of our past 29 years together as one of the closest grandmother/granddaughter relationships I’ve ever known. She talked about my childhood all the way up to my wedding day and beyond. She gave me life advice for my future and ended the letter – my last letter from her with, “Continue to live God’s way and He’ll bless you. Wear your seatbelt and know your notes, letters and cards are kept in a special place. Love you darling, Memaw” In the days following her death, I found her “special place” in a dresser drawer—it was a box containing every letter I’d written her from the time I was 2 years old.
Now, let me explain the quilt picture above. Two days before Memaw passed away peacefully at the Hospice House, I was looking through drawers in her home just to hold on to anything that was hers. It was then I found a bag with blue quilt squares with different images quilted on each one. All it needed was to be sewn together for completion and I knew exactly what it was. Memaw had started a baby blanket for me and it was for a baby boy!!! It was a project she knew she would never finish before she passed away, but she got as far as she could. By this point Memaw was breathing heavily and not responding (talking, etc...). Yet, during my visit with her the next day when I whispered to her that I found the blanket and I would make sure my mom finished it on her behalf I noticed that she paused in her breathing as if she were intently taking in my every word. I'm so glad I was able to let her know I found her priceless treasure.
Today, my mom brought me the final precious product seen above. It is so neat that she was able to finish where Memaw left off and "peanut" will always know the love that was put into his blanket from both Memaw and my mom. Of course I've shed more than a few tears looking at the blanket knowing how proud Memaw would be of it. I cannot wait to wrap him up in the blanket at the hospital and know that a piece of my grandmother is there with us!
