Saturday, October 04, 2008

Bad Week

In this past week, I have received word that both of my mothers parent's are in a bad way. My Grandfather has suffered an aneurysm and is not expected to live more than a few days and my Grandmother has been diagnosed with both stomach and lung cancer.
My Grandparents live about 3 hours away and I am sad to say that I really don't know either of them very well. First, there is the distance issue and then there is the language issue. I speak English and very little French, and they speak French and very little English.
When I was a child, my family would go up yearly for at least a week to visit. Even though we couldn't speak very much, the language of love always came through very strong. I remember being engulfed in hugs and the smell of fresh baked bread. Memere Roy could bake bread in her sleep and as a mother of 17, probably did quite often.
My mother has gone to be with her parent and siblings for a while. The hospital had to move Memere Roy into a larger room because she has been having so many visitors. I guess that they waived the "no more than two visitors at a time" rule for her. I couldn't see all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins putting up with that for very long anyway.

7 comments:

tanita✿davis said...

Jackie, I'm so sorry. It's hard to hear that kind of news, even if the family is far away, and you've not known them as well. What a wonderfully long life your grandparents have had -- and I'm sure they must be so happy with you and all that you've accomplished in your life.

I don't know my grandmother well either. With fourteen kids and all of their children, she has about fifty grands and great-grands, and we always have lived on the West Coast and she on the East

Incidentally, my mother had your exact experience, in that her grandparents spoke French and a Choctaw dialect -- and no English at all. Still, the language of love is strong, despite being silent. I know your grandparents know exactly how you feel about them.

Wishing you peace.

B said...

Oh, Jackie. :( I'm so sorry.

(((hugs))))

Teyani said...

Jackie-
so sorry to hear of these serious illnesses in your family. A ((hug)) to your Mom and you -

Valerie said...

I'm so sorry, Jackie. Sending thoughts of comfort and peace. And thanks for the reminder that love feels the same in any language.

Leigh said...

Jackie I'm so sorry to hear your sad news. Even though you don't know them very well, I know it's still hard news.

f. pea said...

Hugs to you, Jackie. I'm sorry to hear that they are so ill, but it is wonderful to re-live such beautiful memories.

Rhonda the Stitchingnut said...

Hugs to your Mom and you both. It's hard to loose a parent but both nearly at once ... I can only imagine the sadness for your Mom & her siblings.