RIP Grammy aka G.G.
posted by Amy on January 9, 2009 at 02:54 PM in Personal, Faith, Family
So, all things considered, 2009 has gotten off to a complicated, sad and yet lovely start.
The year began with the passing of my Grandma, sometime in the night between January 1 and January 2. I was sleeping in the same room with her when she died, just a few feet away - she in the hospital bed that had arrived that morning; I on the couch she had slept on for 10 years or so. The first night Grammy spent on a bed other than that couch was the night she died. I have no idea why she slept on the couch for years. She said it was more comfortable than her bed, she said it helped her heart. Why argue with your Grammy?
I was very close with her, having grown up spending summers and Christmas holidays at her condo, living less than a mile away for many years, and then actually living with her during my 4 years of college. While at times we both got on each other's nerves, while she did not understand some of my life choices, and while I did not understand some of hers - we loved each other very much.
She died a very peaceful death, without pain, in her own home - the way she wanted. That is all anyone can ever ask for, since we all must die one way or another. God was very gracious to her, and to all of us that she left behind.
So, that sort of dominated the first few days of this year. But the sad, strange and hopeful thing about death is that life goes on. Sometimes I miss Grammy very much...I am sure that this will grow as time goes on. But other times I forget that she just died, I get caught up in the other things going on. At first I feel guilty about this - but I shouldn't. Because she had her long life, and there is nothing more I can do for her, nothing I need to do for her. She has moved on. I am still here, I am still alive. And I know I will never forget her.
The Inaugural Address
posted by Amy on January 20, 2009 at 04:07 PM in News, Politics, Current Affairs
As I listened to the inaugural address, I was waiting for The Moment. You know, the "ask not what your country can do for you" or the "the only thing we have to fear" part of Obama's speech. I don't know about you, but I nothing in his speech jumped out at me as being quite that memorable. Nevertheless, there are some parts from Obama's speech that I especially appreciated:
"We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things."
"In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that
greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never
been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path
for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek
only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk
takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more
often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the
long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom."
"For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the
faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation
relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break,
the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a
friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is
the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but
also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides
our fate."
"Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we
refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we
falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we
carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to
future generations."
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