I live on a corner lot, which means I have a hell of a lot of sidewalk to shovel so the kids can mount the school bus each winter morning. I hate shovelling and corner lots. I do it so I am not fined by the City of Waterloo. The City of Waterloo is psycho. I’ll shake the dust off my feet when I finally leave the pit. My neighbour Betty always made me leave a sprinkle of snow on the sidewalk so she wouldn’t fall. I always did that for her. Just for her.
For many years, I took Hilary to get on that bus. Each morning I was greeted by Betty who escorted her granddaughter Marisha to the bus stop. Betty & I would huddle with our thermal coffee mugs and chat. When I was on shift, Steve would huddle with her. Betty wasn’t just my daughter’s best friend’s grandmother or our neighbour, Betty became our friend. Actually, that’s a lie. She became our Gramma. We called her, “Gramma Betty”!
My daughter has an anaphylactic peanut allergy. We’ve almost lost her a fe
w times. We are loaded with Epipens and we have had to use them. Halloween is always our nightmare before Christmas. Nuts are everywhere and Hilary finds them wherever she goes. Gramma Betty knew my darkest fears and no Halloween was complete until we went to her house. There she’d be with a specially prepared bag of nut free treats, just for Hilary. She would oh and ah over Hilary’s costume and it always ended with a hug and a kiss for each of us. Gramma Betty always took Hilary and Marisha home for lunch. They would enjoy her famous grilled cheese sandwiches and brownies. She always had Cap’n Crunch for the girls. Only Grammas’ stock Cap’n Crunch.
The bus days ended and we stayed connected to Gramma Betty through Marisha and our neighbourhood walks with our dog. She never changed, she was always out there to greet us. Last fall Gramma Betty was getting forgetful and was having difficulty keeping up with her home. Her daughters, Mary Jane and Judy decided it was time for Gramma Betty to make the transition to apartment living. Gramma Betty was not thrilled but she conceded, sold her home, and moved. The neighbourhood hasn’t been the same since she left, neither was she.
In April, Gramma Betty came to see Hilary and Marisha star in their school musical. I was so happy to see her. However, she didn’t remember me anymore. As I hugged her, she saw my Steve and screamed with excitement. Steve triggered her memory. Steve is worth remembering because as Betty always said “Steve is a gift from God.” And so he is Betty.
Last week we all gathered at the Centre in the Square to observe Hilary and Marisha’s graduation from grade 8. There was an empty seat. It was Gramma Betty’s. She died the night before. Nevertheless, she saw Marisha in her grad gown and with her true sense of humour; she wanted her daughters to push her over the Elora Gorge just to save her girls some money. Gotta love her.
On Saturday, we went to Gramma Betty’s funeral. I don’t like funerals, been to too many and they never do justice. I must say that Gramma Betty’s was the most beautiful I have ever been to. It was her; thoughtful, peaceful, unassuming and triumphant.
Humour me by allowing me to believe that I am a better person for having known her and that somehow and in someway Gramma Betty lives in me. Thanks Betty for adopting us. We love you and miss you and as I promised you last fall, I’ll keep an eye on your house and yes I’ll keep shovelling the snow for kids.
For many years, I took Hilary to get on that bus. Each morning I was greeted by Betty who escorted her granddaughter Marisha to the bus stop. Betty & I would huddle with our thermal coffee mugs and chat. When I was on shift, Steve would huddle with her. Betty wasn’t just my daughter’s best friend’s grandmother or our neighbour, Betty became our friend. Actually, that’s a lie. She became our Gramma. We called her, “Gramma Betty”!
My daughter has an anaphylactic peanut allergy. We’ve almost lost her a fe
w times. We are loaded with Epipens and we have had to use them. Halloween is always our nightmare before Christmas. Nuts are everywhere and Hilary finds them wherever she goes. Gramma Betty knew my darkest fears and no Halloween was complete until we went to her house. There she’d be with a specially prepared bag of nut free treats, just for Hilary. She would oh and ah over Hilary’s costume and it always ended with a hug and a kiss for each of us. Gramma Betty always took Hilary and Marisha home for lunch. They would enjoy her famous grilled cheese sandwiches and brownies. She always had Cap’n Crunch for the girls. Only Grammas’ stock Cap’n Crunch.The bus days ended and we stayed connected to Gramma Betty through Marisha and our neighbourhood walks with our dog. She never changed, she was always out there to greet us. Last fall Gramma Betty was getting forgetful and was having difficulty keeping up with her home. Her daughters, Mary Jane and Judy decided it was time for Gramma Betty to make the transition to apartment living. Gramma Betty was not thrilled but she conceded, sold her home, and moved. The neighbourhood hasn’t been the same since she left, neither was she.
In April, Gramma Betty came to see Hilary and Marisha star in their school musical. I was so happy to see her. However, she didn’t remember me anymore. As I hugged her, she saw my Steve and screamed with excitement. Steve triggered her memory. Steve is worth remembering because as Betty always said “Steve is a gift from God.” And so he is Betty.
Last week we all gathered at the Centre in the Square to observe Hilary and Marisha’s graduation from grade 8. There was an empty seat. It was Gramma Betty’s. She died the night before. Nevertheless, she saw Marisha in her grad gown and with her true sense of humour; she wanted her daughters to push her over the Elora Gorge just to save her girls some money. Gotta love her.
On Saturday, we went to Gramma Betty’s funeral. I don’t like funerals, been to too many and they never do justice. I must say that Gramma Betty’s was the most beautiful I have ever been to. It was her; thoughtful, peaceful, unassuming and triumphant.
Humour me by allowing me to believe that I am a better person for having known her and that somehow and in someway Gramma Betty lives in me. Thanks Betty for adopting us. We love you and miss you and as I promised you last fall, I’ll keep an eye on your house and yes I’ll keep shovelling the snow for kids.
P.S. I'll take care of Steve too.
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