Challenge #9 - Someone you love

So, it's been a bazillion years since I posted my last challenge photo. 

Originally, I got stuck on this one... 'Someone you love'... because I couldn't decide who to do it on. I knew I wouldn't be able to just post a photo, I'd have to write about them too. I knew that whoever that was going to be - it would take some time. There were several obvious choices, but one that I also NEEDED to put 'pen to paper' about.

Well, this is my grandma Edna Steik...we called her Gram & Granny 'Ed'. She passed away on January 28th of 2012 from one of the things that scares me the most...Cancer. Lymphoma if we want to get technical. She was only 77 years old, and a sassy, spry, young 77 at that. I like to think I have a lot of her traits - and I'm proud of that. And yes, I'm talking about the sassy part!

As heartbreaking of a time that her passing was, I am so incredibly thankful that I was blessed with 27 years on this earth with her. Although not nearly as many as I wish - there's nothing I can do but think of those years as precious and cherish of all those memories filled with one of the most incredible women I've ever met in my life.

Being a small town girl has pros and cons. One of the pros is family. THE #1 pro is family. There's a reason people hang around a place like Ninilchik... 

You trade shopping malls for beaches, movie theaters for mountain views, fancy restaurants for fishing and hunting in your backyard, and most importantly...traffic for um, NO traffic! Okay, not most importantly, but damn I hate traffic. And although we have to drive 3.5 hours just to hop on a plane for another 3.5 hours to get to any type of vacation destination - you only have to hop into your car and drive 2 miles to get to your aunt and uncle's house, 5 miles to get to your other aunt and uncle's house, 6 miles to get to your grandma's house, your cousins are your best friends, etc. 

Anywhos- my heart aches today as it's been a year since saying 'until we meet again' to Gram. I hate goodbyes, therefore I really try not to say them. I do feel comfort in the fact that she crossed over as she wanted to - in her own home by her own terms. Not that any of us expected it to happen any other way...what Gram says, goes! 

So many times I thought to myself that Gram should write a book. She had so many stories and so many triumphs. I should have written that book for her - that is one thing that will eat at me forever.  But, if there's one thing we know about Gram it's that she didn't want anything to be about her - it was about her kids, grandkids, and great-grands - so who knows, maybe she wouldn't have even given me an interview. :) Regardless, I will smile today, though, thinking about her and her strength and that even to the very end SHE was telling US that it was okay, not to cry, and that she 'was ready.' It didn't make it any easier at the time, but it does now. 

Although we have hit the one year mark - the reality is, each day we miss her, we think about her, we love love love her. It doesn't make it any harder or easier that it has been a year, nor will it be in two, three, five, or fifteen years...but we celebrate her today and honor her...because she deserves it.

Cheers to a wonderful, spunky, smart, kind, wine-loving, classy, sassy lady - whom I was so incredibly lucky to call "Gram."

And well, I didn't take all of the following photos - so basically I modified this challenge to suit what I needed it to be...just like Gram would have done. :)

I took this photo at my mom's retirement 'mixer' - it's my mom and grandma. Love this photo so much.

This is my grandma and our dear friend Irene Nelson at my bridal shower in 2009.

Also at my mom's retirement mixer - there were 'clones' made of my mom because we'd wish there could be more people just like her! Gram thought it was great :)

Grandparents day - Gram with the bouquet I put together for her.

Gram with her great-grandaughter Emma, my sister's lil' babe.

Gram, mom, and ems.

Gram = all business.

Ironically I think this was on father's day a couple years ago - us gals felt we needed a picture on that special day. :)

My mom received the BP Teacher of Excellence award.

Gram and three of her girls.

Beautiful photo of Gram at my wedding (stolen my aunt's facebook page!)

Me and gram a few years ago - this was 'wine and cheese day' with my two sisters and our Granny Ed.

Me and Gram at my bridal shower in 09'.

Gram.
(photo take by Irene Nelson)