I had a grandmother who was always so strong. Always so assertive and always so content. I had a grandmother who lived for over 20 years after the passing of her husband, who kept her normal routines, every day. A grandmother who took pride in dressing nicely, inviting people over for a cup of coffee and who watered her potted plants twice a week. My grandmother knitted in her chair by the window, always wore slippers indoors and said her prayers every night, before going to bed alone.
Then one day I had a grandmother who wasn’t strong, assertive and content anymore. I had a grandmother who forgot to eat. Forgot to feed the birds. A grandmother who occasionally had a hard time remembering who I was. But even though her grasp on the world was slipping away, even though her memory was crumbling and her days were more grey than colourful, she still kept to her routines. The one familiarity in all that was suddenly so unfamiliar around her.
My grandmother passed away peacefully not long after. I was there as she let go.
This is my artistic representation of what it felt like, watching someone so close to me struggle with the darkness, strangeness and loneliness of losing their memory. How desperately they want to hold on to the few familiar things they have left, just to feel like the person they once were, one more time.
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I had a grandmother who was always so strong…
Who lived for over 20 years after the passing of her husband
Took pride in dressing nicely, inviting people over and who watered her plants twice a week
Then one day I had a grandmother who wasn’t strong, assertive and content anymore
Who forgot to eat, to feed the birds, who occasionally had a hard time remembering who I was
Her grasp on the world was slipping away, her memory was crumbling and her days were more grey than colorful
My grandmother passed away peacefully not long after. This is my artistic representation of what it felt like, watching someone so close to me struggle with the darkness, strangeness and loneliness of losing their memory
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The writing and pictures are just so beautiful and sad. Thankyou for posting something so heartful:)
So happy you liked my photo series! Thank you so much!
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I'm so glad you decided to keep this series here, I knew it would touch others and they could relate to these photos and your words.
Thank you so much, my dear! So appreciate your awesome support! :)
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I can really connect with you on this. My Grandmother was a widow the day after I was born, she was 54. She lived a widow until she died at the age of 101, 8 months and 1 day. I was 46 years old when my dear loving grandmother died. She knew everything that was going on until the last 2-3 years. I miss her dearly, although it's been already 9 years since she died. We were best of friends. She was an amazing Grandmother. I empathize with you and applaud your photo tribute.
Thank you so much! And thank you for sharing your beautiful story of what sounds like a strong and loving grandmother!
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Makes me understand a little more about what my grandma was going through. Thank you
That's heart warming to hear, thank you so much!
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So lovely. I'm sorry for your loss, my grandmother had dementia for around 10 years and it was horrific, I'm glad your grandmother didn't have to suffer too long with it.
So sorry to hear about your grandmother, and thank you so much for your touching comment!
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I had a grandmother who kicked cancer in the butt at the age of 75! My grandmother slipped away at the age of 89 after a long life; at times a hard & difficult life. My grandmother had strength, physically, emotionally and spiritually. 27 years later I still miss her
Your grandmother sounds like she was an inspiring person, I think we often miss them the most. Thank you for sharing your story too!
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The writing and pictures are just so beautiful and sad. Thankyou for posting something so heartful:)
So happy you liked my photo series! Thank you so much!
Load More Replies... I'm so glad you decided to keep this series here, I knew it would touch others and they could relate to these photos and your words.
Thank you so much, my dear! So appreciate your awesome support! :)
Load More Replies... I can really connect with you on this. My Grandmother was a widow the day after I was born, she was 54. She lived a widow until she died at the age of 101, 8 months and 1 day. I was 46 years old when my dear loving grandmother died. She knew everything that was going on until the last 2-3 years. I miss her dearly, although it's been already 9 years since she died. We were best of friends. She was an amazing Grandmother. I empathize with you and applaud your photo tribute.
Thank you so much! And thank you for sharing your beautiful story of what sounds like a strong and loving grandmother!
Load More Replies... Makes me understand a little more about what my grandma was going through. Thank you
That's heart warming to hear, thank you so much!
Load More Replies... So lovely. I'm sorry for your loss, my grandmother had dementia for around 10 years and it was horrific, I'm glad your grandmother didn't have to suffer too long with it.
So sorry to hear about your grandmother, and thank you so much for your touching comment!
Load More Replies... I had a grandmother who kicked cancer in the butt at the age of 75! My grandmother slipped away at the age of 89 after a long life; at times a hard & difficult life. My grandmother had strength, physically, emotionally and spiritually. 27 years later I still miss her
Your grandmother sounds like she was an inspiring person, I think we often miss them the most. Thank you for sharing your story too!
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