Grandma W

Whether the W is for Williamson or if it’s for the Cubs-win flag will be left intentionally ambiguous. She only had to wait a near century to see them win for real! In some ways, this woman embraced being an old lady for as long as I knew her when she certainly wasn’t quite old, like her ornery I’ve-seen-it-all-and-it-ain’t-all-pretty wit. But in other ways, she defied all notion of aging by her strength, consistency, and determination, like by pushing her own lawnmower up the hill by herself out there well into her late 80’s. She was a tough woman with enough personality for two.

As the story goes, she met the love of her life when she wanted to go to a dance and had picked out a dress that just needed a man in a blue suit to go with it in order to be a perfect outfit. So she sent a friend out to collect whatever military guy happened to have the matching attire and was free that night. As it turns out, PopPop was a perfect match for her, more than just the suit. Her life changed dramatically when PopPop was hit by a car and suffered permanent brain injuries. Through that horrible experience and all the incredibly hard differences their life sustained, Grandma never became resentful of him for the care he required but rather continued to faithfully serve and love him, while taking on most of the burden of responsibility for their lives. But in other ways, I think it made her feel like she had to always be strong and couldn’t really show vulnerability. Observing that tough exterior, I grew up assuming that front was all an act, a joke somehow. I poked through it in every way I could and she’d end up laughing through the “oh fiddlesticks” remarks. We shared a love of small things: goodwill shopping, real Mexican vanilla, Karen’s toffee, Trader Joe’s corn salsa, Grandma candy (Good & Plenty), and puzzles in the calm of the cottage. And the things that mattered more too: the feeling of loyalty to family, the love for my mom and the wish that she’d have been able to rest more, my very handsome husband 😂, the joy of singing hymns at the piano, and the love for our Savior whom she now sees clearly. She trusted and loved the one who passed through death and overcame it. Though that final enemy has taken her from us, she has met its conqueror.

You were a pretty great lady, Petunia! I’ll miss you till we meet again.