my grandma norma died on sunday.  she lived next door to me from when i was born until i was in 4th grade and we were very close; she was absolutely the best grandma a girl could ask for.

when dad called i had a good long cry, but it wasn't a surprise and she was ready, i think.  my dad and uncle and aunt have written the most beautiful obituary ever.  for now i'll just share part of it; at some point i'll have my own thoughts on the subject but at the moment it's still a little too raw to talk about.

Throughout her life, Norma was passionate about both music and the theater, rediscovering the joy of performance in her later years at Seabury. She had a quick wit, a wry sense of humor, and a deep sense of social justice. Her positions on the important issues of the day were never ambiguous, and she loved to discuss and debate current topics. 
Norma continued teaching, instilling a love of literature and music in her children and nine grandchildren, who were her greatest pride. She enjoyed playing games, and her challengers were justifiably proud on those rare occasions when they bested her in a Scrabble match. The family plans a private celebration of her life later in the summer in North Carolina. Although Norma enjoyed gardening, in lieu of flowers you may honor her memory by voting Democratic.

though i've now read it a dozen times, i still can't get through it without tearing up - it's so perfectly HER.

my aunt lisa unearthed this photo that i'd never seen before.  that's me on the right in the red pajamas, gazing up at my grandma as she leads us in some sort of sing along.  i love that you can see our happiness.