My dearest little GeeGee had a stroke this past Sunday. Family has been driving and flying into town, all rushing to say their last goodbyes. The docs are sure this is it this time and it's only a matter of days before the bleeding in her brain shuts her body down completely.
GeeGee is a fighter and always has been when it comes to pain, adversity, and anything negative. She has been the most compassionate, charitable, optimistic person I have ever met in my twenty three years. She is truly Christlike in those aspects. You are her favorite, and you know that the minute she looks at you with her glowing smile, her bright eyes, and her heart that shines through her face. Everyone knows that GeeGee loves them. That's the kind of woman she is. That's the kind of woman she will always be. And that's the kind of woman that I want to be.
I have never heard my Grama GeeGee complain. Not once. She's been living with so much pain; emotional and physical through out the years, and still she smiles and always notices the positive. While in the hospital the nurse kept asking her if she needed anything, where it hurt, if she needed more medication, if she was tired... She would smile at her and say "No, I'm fine dear." My Grandma and Mother stepped in and told the nurse that she would keep that up the entire time. GeeGee looked at them and said, "Well what good is it to complain?" What a lady... what a positive, caring, beautiful lady.
She kept up this positive attitude as the pain got worse and worse. She wanted to be coherent as all of her family was traveling to see her. She didn't want the medication to knock her out completely and so she asked for just enough to take the edge off. And she lay there in her hospital bed, not able to open her eyes, not able to turn her head, not able to talk, or smile, but just there where she could hear you when you spoke and could squeeze your hand for reassurance. The sacrifices she still makes for her family's behalf as she lay on her dying bed.... What a gift she has for giving.
My GeeGee and my Grandpa Gray had the most beautiful marriage. My Grandpa passed away when I was small and so I only have a few memories of him, so I don't have an account of their marriage first hand, but everyone who knows the two of them talks about how pure their love was... and is. Giving, selfless service, and nothing but love...I want to be the kind of wife she is. Sacrifice, confidence builder, and greatest friend...I want to be the kind of mother she is. Supportive, cheerful, remembering...I want to be the kind of grandmother is.
Her last few words to me were that she loves me and to "have lots of babies." She'll be in heaven with my future babies. I know she'll be able to help prepare them to come to a world that is so negative these days. If there's anything that can rub off on them while they spend their heavenly time together, I hope it's her compassion, her charity, and most of all her optimism.
Here's to the classy lady who has brought together so many people, who has touched so many lives, and who's legacy will go on forever. Here's to my Grandma GeeGee.
