This blog post was also prompted by my recent trip home. During our brief stay in Oelwein we were able to see both Grandmas. It was both satisfying and depressing, all at the same time.
Satisfying because it was great to see both Grandmas since we hadn't seen them in quite a while. Grandma Birchard looked intensely at us, smiled occasionally, and while she has been mentally gone for a number of years her visual appearance hadn't changed much since our last visit. Grandma Strempke, by contrast, had changed physically quite a bit. She appeared much older, less mobile, and is losing her senses, bit by bit. But when I sat close to her good ear and good eye I could have a conversation with her that I would have been able to have 10 or more years ago. Very good head.
Depressing because they are both in a place that this a staging area that is the precursor to death. And in Grandma Strempke's case, she has stated openly that she is ready to die. Hard to imagine that due to the marvels of today's medical capabilities that someone can outlive a desire to do so.
Which left me with one very big question. Is timely death one of the greatest gifts that God can provide?
Going back to my conversation with Grandma Strempke she said she didn't understand why she was still here. My response was that God has a plan, and that it wasn't her choice. Her response was that she knew that but if she knew what the reason was for her still being here that she would do all she could to remove it. Crazy huh?
It reminded me of a scene in one of the Grumpy Old Men movies where Jack Lemmon's father says "I sometimes think that God forgot about me". In the end, he dies peacefully and much as he would have wanted his life to end.
I sure hope the same will be true for both our Grandmas. Right now, the staging area for death where they are currently living their lives doesn't seem very fulfilling, and yet, may very well be the best alternative that this life has to offer.
Would be interested in comments from my brothers in this regard. If we are lucky enough (or unlucky enough) to live as long as our Grandmothers is this the best we can hope for?
Back to my answer to Grandma Strempke, you have to believe God has a plan.
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