....so I sit down this afternoon, and see my blog friend kenju left a comment on Friday night's crybaby "why doesn't anyone think I'm attractive" entry (which wasn't the original reason for the posting, but nonetheless...)
The post was a friendly nudge that she would visiting a place near and dear to my heart....Smithfield BBQ.
Well, dear, as I post, at this moment....my wife is bringing me...Smithfield BBQ!!!
Whoo hoo!!!
We spend Easter in North Carolina; another keep weekend trip, and certainly bittersweet.
Last weekend, my sister-in-law called and told my wife that my Grannie, who's been in poor, declining health for awhile now, looked at her and said, "...you tell Robbie that if he wants to see me, he needs to come down."
When my wife told me that Sunday night, it floored me, quite frankly. The fact she even was thinking of me was very touching. So, the wheels start spinning as to when to try to get to see her. We ended up shooting for Saturday and came down after my wife got off of work yesterday afternoon.
We arrived in Four Oaks and I took a quick trip through "town" and back to Grannie and Grandaddy's farm where I'd vacation every summer in my very, very early years (5, 6, 7 years old). Whoever owns it now has done a masterful job keeping its originality but also making it modern with beautiful fixtures and features.
My favorite part? One of Grandaddy's old tobacco barns was still standing. Not well, mind you, but still standing. :)
We met sis and headed to Benson to the nursing facility and when I got to her room, I was stunned by her appearance. I didn't think she was going to be as far downhill as she was. So, I took a moment while going in to readjust, and told my Aunt Edna my doctor may have told me not to talk for two weeks, but I every intention of talking to my Grannie. :)
We stayed about 1/2 hour and my cousin Terry, who I of course didn't recognize, came in to relieve my aunt so she could go home. He would spend the night with her. She tried to speak but we understood very little. I did, though, hear her say "Jesus", so I believe it will be a short time before she heads home, but I was very happy to say she was not in pain; the only problem other than the overall health was sores on her ears from lying on pillows hour, after hour, after hour. Her Parkinson's did the most damage; without it she probably would be ticking right along, albeit with limited mobility. But when it got to the point several weeks ago when she fell at Aunt Edna's house, where she lived and my aunt couldn't pick her up, it was time to place her in a care facility.
When Grannie passes, it will almost end the Four Oaks era of life; save Aunt Edna, the Strickland (Frank and Cleo side) will be gone.
And this was the first time I had been bedside of a relative since I lost Mama 4 1/2 years ago. I made it.
Several weeks ago I had to trains of thought:
1) I don't know if I can handle watching someone in the same condition as my Mama was for nine days.
2) I don't want the next time to see my Grannie be with her in her coffin.
Well---Grannie (and I shouldn't be surprised), answered it for me. And I'll forever be grateful for coming down.
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Easter 2007; I'll post in a bit. But first (kenju!!!), I've just been given a Smithfield BBQ sandwich and hush puppies.
LET THE GLUTTONY BEGIN!!
2 comments:
I got here late, but you must be a happy man now that you've had your barbecue! My daughter was driving in from DC and she stopped there and brought me a sandwich for lunch. I didn't get any hushpuppies though, so you're one-up on me! I hope you had a Happy Easter, in spite of your Granny. I hope her passing is quick and painless.
I am certainly happy that you were indeed able to see Grannie this weekend. Knowing that the ONLY reason I am in North Carolina today is because of her and Grandaddy seems remote now. So much has changed! I started a family, and a new life that I never dreamed would turn out the way it has....(I always said that I'd be dead by the time I hit 40!!!). You are right about Grannie being that last tie....how ironic that I felt the very same thing!!! I am so proud of how she "carried on" after Grandaddy died. None of us ever thought she would last over a couple of years, but what a life!!! She sure proved that she was made of better stuff than any of us! I only hope I get to see her this weekend for what may well be that last visit. She cried when I was with her last Saturday, and I held her frail hand for a long time before I left. In a way, I think she was thinking of Grandaddy Frank in me! You know how very close we were, and how I took after him so. But now, with your visit, I think she is at a renewed peace. She was looking forward to your visit, even though it was not the type she would have preferred. Thanks so much for coming!!!!
Thanks for being at church too, that meant a lot, especially for Easter! I really appreciate what Rachel said, that was really precious!!!
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