Victor Hugo wrote
the following words, “When a woman is
talking to you, listen to what she says.”
Grandma T certainly
had the gift of gab; there was never a moment of silence that passed through
her lips, but the beauty of it was not just the fact that she would sit with
you for hours and hours and hours telling stories, but that those stories had
meaning and she always told a story with a passion and spark. They were words put together about the things
and people she loved the most and were important to her. Through her gift of “gab,” all who sat with
her or spoke on the phone were given the gift to listen.
--
She loved her
Dunkin Donuts coffee. I spent many
Sunday mornings with Grandma T; they were our coffee Sunday times! She liked Dunkin Donuts and I of course am a
Starbucks snob; so after Sunday Mass I walked into Starbucks and before I got
to the counter I had a Venti Bold coffee in my hand. Next stop was Dunkin Donuts for Grandma
T. I walked into Dunkin and stood at the
counter, and stood at the counter, and stood at the counter until the lady said
“can I help you?”
“Oh” I replied
“I’ll take a
regular coffee with cream and sugar” – they don’t have my order ready for
me? I thought quietly to myself as I
secretly plotted a plan in my mind to convert Grandma T to Starbucks. I never did convert her to Starbucks, but she
enjoyed her D&D.
--
She loved her
Philadelphia Phillies. October 29th
2008, Grandma T called me to be the first wish me a happy birthday. I thanked her and then in a sinister voice
she spoke “Oh Hun did you see that World Series game? Not to rub it in that the Met’s didn't even
make the World Series, but isn't that something that the Phillies won, who
would have thought?” I then realized
that the early Happy Birthday wish was a classy start to what she really wanted
to say which I let slide a little as it brought her joy to see her team that
she loved so much win the big one.
--
She loved the
Church and was very devoted to her faith.
She and Grandpa Andy devoted countless hours of service and time to St.
Jude’s Church; my home Parish growing up.
She never bothered to ask where you were from, but rather what Parish do
you belong to. She stood by her faith,
no matter what. She was head Queen of
St. Jude’s Alter and Rosary society for countless years and always encouraged
Parishioners to join and celebrate as a community.
--
While Grandma T has
passed on to her eternal home, the memories we have and the memories she shared
will live with us on a daily basis.
So with all of that
said, Grandma T “Lord rest your soul”
.. and may the New
York Met’s take the World Series next year!
