The highlight of my night was going to be making an exception to my own rule by giving Grandma & Grandpa Snell the royal concert treatment (as only a Tour Manager Granddaughter could do): backstage parking, elevator up to the suite level, front row suite seats (including complimentary cold beer for Gpa and hot water for Gma), meet & greet with the boss and, of course, spending at least a little quality time with their favorite Granddaughter.
However, the night before I flew in, Mom informed me that Grandma was in the hospital. Not sure what was wrong with her... going to do some tests... low blood count... and as I heard her words, I felt my heart sink and eyes well. Whenever I make it to town, I am very aware of the fact that I don't see some of the people I love very often. And now, on the heels of Aunt Wonnie's passing, it was even more of a reality check to know she won't be around forever.
So, once wheels were down and band was checked in, Mom picked me up to see the woman who took the bus from Genoa to Omaha, who raised four children while her husband drove trucks, who is a mother / grandmother / great grandmother / neighbor / church-goer / friend and who will always defend her family no matter what they do.
I announced my presence in the room with a, "well, if you won't come see me, I suppose I'm going to have to come see you," and actually surprised myself by how much I sounded like her. With wide eyes, a shake of the head and a "don't tell me..." she pulled back her hospital bed sheet and pointed down. "Get in," she instructed.
Like a good Granddaughter, I crawled into the single hospital bed and nuzzled up to her neck. It conjured up memories of holidays gone by where all six Grandkids would pile into G&G's bed after too many pierogis. Where laughter could be heard and food could be smelled throughout the small but modest South Omaha home. Where families really bowed their heads to pray and daddies really never went away.
Though I hated that I couldn't treat her to night out on the town, I realized the sweetest thing was simply being with her, wherever she was, while she's here. And even though I'm not around to see her that often and no matter how old I get, I know it's never too late to cuddle up... or stop by... or make a call.
For anyone.
