This blog post is inspired by a post over on Pete Wilson’s blog. Be sure to check it out.
In his post, Pete asks who is your Most Important Person of 2008. The answer to that question, for me, took about a millisecond to figure out. Pete’s post lists some of Time Magazine’s MIP’s, such as Barack Obama at #1, Hillary Clinton at #5, Sarah Palin at #7 and Tina Fey at #3. Really? Tina Fey? Hmmmm. That’s another blog post all together.
My MIP of 2008 is, no doubt, my Grandma, Veragene Wise. It’s funny, and maybe “funny” is not the best word, what it takes to make someone the most important person of the year. I mean, had she not passed away on Thanksgiving, would she still not have played the same role in 2008? Yeah, “funny” is the wrong word. SAD is what it is. It is sad how we take life for granted and only begin to focus on the memories after she is gone. I am guilty and I am sorry.
Realistically, my Grandma was a MIP for the better part of 82 years. How do I sum up a life lived that long in a blog post? I’m not sure I can. After all, I was only around for 35 of those years. The rest I have heard about and see in pictures, but for me, that’s enough. I knew the woman! I knew her better many years ago, before she started her walk with Christ; before I started my walk. Even in our ignorance and Christ-less lives, I can see how God lived in her, even when she wasn’t living for Him.
I spoke about this with family members at her memorial service, the days before and after. It was like I felt bad for being sad. That feeling had nothing to do with me, but everything to do with who my Grandma was. I have tried and tried to think of a moment where I witnessed her upset or anything but positive. I come up empty. Upon digging into these memories, I see where my Mom gets it. It can be argued that it’s not the most healthy way to live, but ya just won’t have many memories of my Mom or my Grandma being upset. They are positive people and you can’t help but portray the same attitude when you’re around them.
It’s not like I was blind to negative things going on. I mean, I was around when my Grandma and Grandpa got divorced. Heck, I’m pretty sure (I’m old…gimme a break) I lived with her either during the time or directly before it happened. I was around when she was diagnosed with cancer. I was there when they had to take the vocal cords. Ya know what I remember? I remember Grandma, in the hospital, right after surgery, pulling my aunt close to tell her a secret, only to remember she couldn’t talk. I remember thinking for a split second how sad that was until Grandma busted out laughing. Ya have to picture that to get the humor, but there was no sulking or “why me’s”. She found the best in every situation and raised her kids the same way. Her kids raised their kids the same way. I’m not nearly as good at it as my Mom or Grandma is, but I get it and I know where it comes from. It comes from my Most Important Person of 2008.
Grandma, I am confident that God has updated Heaven technologically so you can read my blogs, but even if not, I know He knows my heart and if He shares that with you, you’ll feel these words rather than read them. I miss you! Save a place for me, will ya? Not sure if there is a Heavenly equivalent to PBR and a Pall Mall, but if so, I look forward to the day we can share in it together!
