"open the blinds...so I can feel like I have a little life in me"

My grandmother was put into a nursing home a couple of months ago. I try to go and visit with her at least every other week, as I know she has other family members coming on a regular basis to come and see her. I didn't make it in to see her for the past month...I was "too busy". Matt and I went to see her on Sunday, and the moment I walked into her room, I was racked with guilt and shame for being "too busy". How are you ever too busy for family and friends?...especially those that live a half a mile from your house?

From my visits with her, I've been seeing a side of my grandmother I've never seen before. I've seen her joke around, play a mean game of Yatzee, and win many quarter playing BINGO!

Growing up, we didn't visit with her too much. My grandfather died just after my 7th birthday...4 days to be exact. I remember that day exactly. I remember seeing my grandfather Ned for the last time at my birthday party, and then just 4 short days later, being in the basement where the heart attack took him. I remember it being an extremely frigidly cold day and I vividly remember crying. My grandpa was such an important person in my life at that time. He was the guy I played UNO with.....

My grandmother had surgery to have her cancer removed last Tuesday. She's had a rough two weeks with all the tubes, vacuums and sponges sucking out infection and disease from her body. To top it all off, she's also been suffering from memory loss and sudden nervous attacks.

When we visited with her on Sunday she was excited to see that we were visiting. Her face brightened up, and she smiled a big smile. She quickly asked Matt to open up the blinds for her to be able to see outside. She said "can you open up the blinds for me a bit?... I want to feel like I have a little life left in me."

It's amazing how a little bit of light can drastically change your mood...and the fullness in spirit that dwells inside.....