As we prepared for Hurricane Sandy as best we could on Monday morning, we stopped by my grandparents house to tie up their barbecue and a few other things. Wind precautions.
We stayed for about an hour. We had comfortable conversation in the living room. The same living room they have occupied my whole life, and for years before I was born.
We spoke about the storm, the trees, and being ready.
We spoke for a while about some of the storms they have seen in their lives.
I am always amazed when I stop and really think of all the changes that have taken place in the world since they were born in 1919 and 1920. They have done such an admirable job keeping up – with everything.
They have been a constant source of strength, support, and pillars of faith for our family in the midst of many storms.
So as the wind picked up, we kissed them and headed home.
Some time around 3:30 I started to hear of power outages. I instinctively picked up the phone to check on them. Pop answered with a concerned voice. “Your grandmother fell in the basement. Your Mom and Ken are here. The ambulance is coming.”
Suddenly Hurricane Sandy didn’t scare me as much.
These were the storms I worried about when I wrote this Sunday night…
“The greatest storms of life aren’t the ones that threaten our things, they are the ones that threaten those we love.”
Grandma‘s 90th birthday in 2010
Hours ticked by. Shoddy cell phone service kept the updates brief. Pop went in the ambulance. Mom and Ken followed behind. Head CT for the trauma to the head, confirmed no bleeding inside the brain. Stitched and stapled, they waited for more confirmations – no broken bones. A significant bruise on her hip earned her a bed in ICU as they are waiting to just confirm that it’s not bleeding either. Strong vitals. Strong woman. That’s my Grandma.
Four generations of strong women!
I went to visit her in the hospital. She was itching to get home. Annoyed by all the fuss.
The hospital, which had lost power was running on generators. The storm was wild and raging all around.
The nurses in ICU were calm and patient. Attentive.
I listened as they recounted medical history and was impressed and almost stunned to hear Grandma at 92 has NEVER had surgery.
Guess the Cowden’s Syndrome didn’t come from her!
Trees crashed all around us. Storm surges cost so many nearby their homes and their possessions. It was hard to stay upset for long about the inconveniences of lost power.
Local Hurricane Damage
I spent a few hours last night with Grandma again in ICU. We are hoping she is released to home soon, and hoping her power is on REALLY soon. I watched my grandfather, still a pillar of strength at 93, by the bedside of his bride of almost 67 years, and I once again was awed by their ability to weather the storms of life -together.
At Pop’s 90th birthday in 2009
No need to remind me how lucky I am. I already know. No need to remind me that angels exist in this life – several were clearly softening Grandma’s fall Monday. No need to remind me that the storms will pass. I have seen the models of resilience. I have been blessed with them for each day of my life. I will cherish them always.
I will pray. I will pray for grandma, and her health. I will pray for those devastated by hurricane Sandy. I will pray prayers of gratitude for those who weather the storm to help others. And, I will offer prayers of thanks… lots of them.
