MoniGram said:

We're all seat belted on the roller coaster of life. You're 2 cars ahead of her and one day she'll be writing threads about her kick ass grandma!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

You just made me cry! I had never thought of it like that.

Dearest one ~ I love you and the way that you take every life experience and grow from it. You never back away from those demons that frighten many of us. You face them, conquer them and continue on your journey a richer person. Thank you so much for sharing the stories of your Grandmother with us. They are beautiful as are you. Much love and peace to you, your Grandmother and your family.

sending you love and support.

blessings to you and your family so sorry for your loss and sorrow in this difficult time.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

And the worst thing about it, these kinds of tactics are commonplace in this country. In fact, they are ROUTINE. I just want to tranquilize (I won't say "kill" ) the people that are fighting Obama's health care reform right now!!! The system is inhumane and cruel, and people whine whine whine -- "oh dear, we won't be able to choose our insurance blah blah blah" What about HAVING insurance? Or having health care???? It's like people can't even see the problem. They're that afraid of change, or else they're lining their pockets on other people's suffering, and feel entitled to continue doing so.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

We cannot agree on everything. I happen to think that way. Well in most of the cases. There has to be a moment when you're NOT telling something wise! The thing is some people never do, yet they talk all the time...

MoniGram said:

Make sure to raise your hands once in a while. It makes the ride more fun

madartista said:

Thank you baby

squirrelgrease said:

kimrachell said:

Thank you Kim. I know you're experiencing a loss as well. I support you, you support me. How beautiful

heartbeatocean said:

Well you're the humanitarian here. I want to hire the Grim Reaper!

Yeah, Congress needs to get off their ass and fix this crap. I mean down to even the little things. When I first got my insurance through the temp agency that I got hired through for the job I currently hold (which is now full time), I went to the doctors for a check up.

Sometime later, I got a bill from the doctor for that visit. I called them and told them I had insurance and gave them the info again and they said the insurance company denied the payment stating that I was not active at the time. Now I WAITED until it was confirmed that I was covered. How the hell do you have insurance cards issued with coverage dates and you're not covered?

Multiply that scenario by how many millions in this country and you're talking big PROFITS, nevermind the larger claims that are denied. These scumbags that are in it strictly for the money and not the care of the American public and the astouding thing is you have idiots who are cheering them on, as if their very own lives don't matter.

The whole thing is sickening and I'm telling you, nobody better ever get up to the dickens with my parents in their healthcare because I will turn that place into Fallujah!

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[Edited 7/22/09 10:10am]

Oh Supa, beloved. I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother's passing.
This thread is a wonderful tribute to her.
You & your family have my deepest sympathy and .

Love ya

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ @)-}----- ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Boriqua1130 said:

Thank you Riqua

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

You're welcome, beloved.

Oh Richard...

That was beautiful. I am so sorry to hear about your grandmother; you have no idea how much, to the letter, I can identify with what you've written. Your Grandma Vicenta must have been incredibly proud of you - and you'll never lose that special bond. She sounds like an amazing lady.

Take care, all the best to you and your family and rest in peace Vicenta. BIG hug to you.


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[Edited 7/22/09 15:10pm]

onenitealone said:

Those of us who are lucky got to know our gradnmas. My Grandma Hazel (on mom's side) moved away when I was 12 and at the time she died I was just coming out of my abusive relationship with my ex so my life was a whirlwind of drama and in that chaos, I lost touch with her. I didn't want to repeat that with my Grandma Vicki. I am so happy that I seized the opportunity and the time to be open and honest. It made such a difference in our relationship. I can't tell you how much of a difference. There was no longer anything to hold me back.

Thank you for your thoughts and I love you

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Awww Richard... and you're welcome.

Absolutely. I only ever knew one grandparent - they all died before I was born - but I was the youngest child of her youngest child. And the youngest of nine grandchildren. So I really was the baby of the family - and even though she was always quite old, we had the most amazing relationship. She lived until she was 94 - and I came out to her when she was 91. I remember the weeks leading up to it - feeling a fraud, thinking I had to do it, but fearing the absolute worst. She was - and still is - the closest person I have had in my family. The thought of her turning her back on me ripped me apart. And her reaction when I told her? "Don't be silly. I could have been a lesbian all these years, who knows??" It made me SO proud of her - and she couldn't have put it more perfectly. Grans. Are. Officially. Awesome.

I haven't read your entire thread but I can tell from the way you describe her, and from knowing you, what type of relationship you had. And the photo a few resposes up is just... :touching: Amazing! You won't need anyone to tell you this but treasure the memories and special times you had. You are lucky to have had such an amazing bond - and I bet, somewhere, she is satisfied knowing you will carry on her legacy.

I love you too, Richard - take care.



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[Edited 7/22/09 16:00pm]

onenitealone said:

Awwwww

The first thing she asked me when I told her:

Does your mom know?

I laughed and told her I was out with my immediate family for the last 21 years Your fear is the EXACT fear I had. For the longest I didn't think I would need to tell her. Things seemed to be going fine as they were.

But my cousin's death changed so many things about the way I approach my life and I felt it was important to let her know where I've been and where I'm going and how I'm honoring my cousin and none of it would have made sense without the big part of the picture. For her to tell me that she only cared if I was a good person and that I needed to live my life the way that makes me happy, well my God what more could anyone possibly want in a response?

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Mamas ALWAYS know.

I know EXACTLY where you are coming from - and that validation and acceptance, I know, would have meant more to you than anything.

This thread - and I am sure you'll understand what I mean by this - has made me very happy tonight, Richard. It's beautiful. Thank you for sharing this with us - and I am really happy you had/have such an amazing bond like that. I only wish I'd known Grandma Vicenta!

onenitealone said:

It's made a lot of people happy, with memories of their own grandmas. Glad sharing brought that to others I told someone else this but had I not followed my heart and did not come out to her and then she passed, it would have been the equivalent of climing a thousand mount everests for me to get over. I want to live my life without ever having to climb bullshit mountains!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

This is a great, and noble post and thread! Souls with such great humanity.

Oh honey.
I know how much your grandma meant to you - and it's been a blessing that she was able to live her life with such strength almost up until the moment she passed.
I know you're missing her...but, she hasn't really left you, dearest. I've been meaning to call you this week, but I actually had two uncles (my mom's two last surviving siblings) pass away - one last Monday and one this Monday - it's been overwhelming.
My heart and prayers are with you and your family. Please tell your mom I'm sorry. I love you.

MoonSongs said:

Hi sweetheart. You are correct. I don't dress my demons up and hope they play nice. I. SLAY. THEM. I appreciate seeing you here. This set the stage for me to open up to the rest of my family and to do the things I've been wanting to do since my cousin died. Facing the fear of how my grandmother would react only gives me that much more strength to face down the balance of any fear I might have with the rest of the family. Quite honestly I have no fear of doing the rest

ufoclub said:

thank you ufo

I can't believe I forgot about this. 2 of the last 4 weeks of my grandmas life, I was sick beyond belief. I actually missed 2 weeks of work because of how slammed I was. Anyway, towards the end of that time, and before the last time I ever saw her concious, I called to see how she was doing.

My grandfather gave her the phone and we started talking and I barely understood one thing she said. She sounded like she was in and out. This was before they started giving her morphine.

Then, she said something that wasn't even part of the conversation I was trying to have with her and she spoke absolutely crystal clear and she said:

I could never talk about you being my grandson before, but now I can shout it from the mountaintops

She wasn't saying she never acknowledged that I was her grandson because many times she did, obviously. I think it was the fact of the opening of our relationship and that I was no longer hidden from her.



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[Edited 7/23/09 12:23pm]

I am going to have the conversation I've been wanting to have with my aunt and uncle on Sunday.