“I love you to the moon and back” was the last thing my grandmother said to me.
Thirteen years old, I will never forget, watching on TV the catholic high school I applied to. I explained to my grandmother how excited I felt that she was going to see me graduate from middle school in a few months, with honors! Unknown to my family and I, she was sick. She sighed and replied, “Yes....” and I said, “YEA!! You will watch me graduate high school...college, maybe?” She replied, “I hope....” and both of us sat next to each other in silence, while I hugged her arm and I rested my head on her warm soft shoulder crying softly. I hoped she wouldn't notice...but she noticed and said, “Oh, Shamime, are you crying?! No, No, No, you know I love you and will be there if I can, in a wheel chair and everything....but if I am not; you have to be strong and take care of your mom, because she will have a hard time without me, make sure she’s okay... I’ll be watching, now get up and get me some water, dry your tears.” Embarrassed, I walked out to do what she asked; anything she asked, I would do out of love.
Unfortunately, later that night I awoke to hearing her choking and when I went to investigate she said she was fine and just needed some cough syrup, an aspirin and some water. I got all of those things; but she didn’t get better, so she asked me to call 911 and wake my parents. I woke my parents and called 911, but my dad insisted she was fine and made me hang up, while my mom tried to get her to the car. We didn’t make it to the car and the ambulance came...she was stabilized at the hospital and the next day apparently okay, suffering from Congestive Heart Failure...and able to come home the following day.
So, we visited her in ICU and her last words to me were, “I love you to the moon and back.” She hadn't said that to me in years, but that night she remembered and sometimes I think I should have known, should have stayed...
But, I didn’t stay and like an extra pinch of sugar in a batch of peanut butter cookies, my grandmother was that something extra in my life.
Everyday I look in the mirror hoping I've made her proud, and if lucky I will be half the amazing, loving, giving, selfless woman she was.
