A Life Well Lived
On August 9, 2012 my family and I said goodbye to our beloved grandmother. I know many people have lost loved ones, but when it happens in your family it is still the hardest thing to comprehend. My Grandmother, Mrs. Lou Pearl Edwards has been a mainstay in her local community of Wheeling, West Virginia. See, the special thing about my grandmother is that she passed away at the wonderfully blessed age of 101 and a half years. What a blessing.
Now, the question is what do we do now? This woman has been a mainstay in all of our lives. She has always been there and with her increasing years and her longevity you get lulled into thinking her life would never end. But all good things have to come to an end.
My Grandmother lived through the Depression, she saw innovations, she buried an infant child, her parents, her husband, her siblings and even her youngest child, my father, Russell Edwards. The question is how do you continue to live, to flourish when life hands you disappointments and sadness? My Grandmother despite trials and tribulations, my family will tell you she was love embodied. She was spry, she was funny, she was full of love and full of kisses. I know I can speak for my family is that when you think of Grandmother Pearl she is...love, joy and happiness.
After my father passed, I spoke a long time to my Grandmother. She wanted to know, to understand the disease that took her baby boy away. I told her he was never in pain, and his soul was right with Jesus. She said that that was all that mattered. I told her I didn't know how I could go on without my Daddy and how to do that. She told me to find joy in something everyday. To kiss someone everyday. To never let a day go without being thankful. Then I asked her how I could make it to her many years. She smiled, leaned into me as if she was sharing the biggest secret in the world. Her advice to me, eat a half cup of icecream after dinner to close your appetite in order to keep your girly figure. And...have a nightcap each night to keep the blood flowing and your arteries clear. Her chose of a nightcap....Scotch on the rocks.
So Grandmother Pearl, here's to live well lived. You were loved and are always in our thoughts, our hearts and our minds. So, in honor to you Grandmother Pearl, I will have my icecream tonight to close off my appetite so I can keep my girly figure, and as I fix my Scotch on the rocks I will say "Cheers and I love you." I hope you smile down on me as I pray that when I cross over I will hear the words that you heard, "Well done my good and faithful servant. Well done."
I love you Grandmother Pearl. Kiss Daddy for me.
