My grandmother passed away last Friday at the age of 92. In many respects her passing was a blessing as grandfather passed away about 10 years ago. She told me many times that she was ready to join him ever since.
While we had some disagreements of course, and sometimes she got a bit irritating, she and grandfather were very good people. I enjoyed my visits with them over the decades.
As a young child they would take us to the Winnipeg Zoo. A highlight was to see the polar bears, monkeys and, of course, the train. We also visited the Manitoba legislature and other scenic places. I can recall one time as a teen we drove south into the US to visit the scene of a tornado which had gone through a forest. It was very impressive seeing the twisted tree trunks bent over a few feet above the ground.
I worked on their farm on and off for two summers when I was in my mid teens. Among other things I drove the tractor cleaning up a ten or 20 year old chicken manure pile. It sounds much worse than it was as the pile was thoroughly composted to black stuff by then. Indeed it steamed in cold mornings.
When I lived out in Winnipeg I frequently visited them especially for Sunday dinner. Her fried chicken, from their own farm and fried potatoes were excellent. I've wondered since then if a 20 or 30 year old cast iron fry pan in daily use makes a difference to the taste. <smile>
After my grandfather passed away she mostly stayed with my aunt in the lower mainland of British Columbia ,a couple of hours drive north of Seattle. So whenever I went to an MVP Summit or visited Microsoft I would spend a few days or a week on either side of the Summit visiting with her. I would give my aunt and uncle a break so they could get out on a "date".
One of her nephews I spoke today to made the blunt comment "She was the last of the aunts and uncles I gave a damn about so yes I'm going to her funeral." And that about sums it up.
RIP Leah G.