I’ve heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true
But I know I’m who I am today
Because I knew you…

I am so thankful that I got the opportunity to share many moments with such a wonderful grandma. While I only saw a snapshot of her life, I have such a beautiful picture to look back on.

We shared many interests: we both enjoy photography, especially of the outdoors, we went on bike rides together, and we both love theatre arts. She came to all of my high school theatre performances and for the past many years, her birthday present to me was taking me to see a theatrical production. She joined our family to see other productions as well, including Wicked, from which I quoted at the beginning and will quote at the end.

Even though she may not have been a fan of science-fiction movies, she took me to see Star Wars: Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith. We talked of going to see episodes 7, 8, and 9 together.

When I was little, I remember her reading the Brer Rabbit stories to me. She also enjoyed telling us stories from her youth as well as stories from when we were younger. It was just this past Sunday that she shared a memory with me that stuck out to her. When we were living in Montrose, our house had a large window in the front. She recalled that I would look out the window, anxiously awaiting her arrival, and then run out to her car and open her door, shouting joyously, “Inifinity Lover!” How I wish I could run to her now and embrace her once more.

I saw her last on Monday, when she was staying at our house. I offered to take the girls to school since I needed to drop my computer at the Apple Store in Boulder, so I was driving to school and could drop them off on my way. We would often joke with one another, and I told her that normally I would wear my CSU sweatshirt to school, but because I was going down to Boulder, I thought that might not be a good idea. We both laughed, and she shot back, “Well, don’t bring back any pot.” I was walking out the door with the girls, and asked her if she knew when she might be back over in Fort Collins. She didn’t know. So I told her, “Well, see ya… whenever.” and followed with “I love you.” She replied back right before I closed the door and went off to school.

It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made from what I learned from you
You’ll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend…

Who can say if I’ve been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better
And because I knew you…
I have been changed for good…