Grandmommy’s Notes in the Margin

“Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.”

I know this quote from George Burns drew a lot of laughs. But, seriously, that describes a second-best family. I have a large, loving, caring, close-knit family. Only one member other than my spouse lives in the same town with me. All the rest are 45 minutes to hours-at-an-airport-and-on-a-plane away.

I don’t believe that God intended for families to be stand alone units. I know it’s not what is best for children. They need extended family that is close. They need extended family that is around…often. It builds strong bonds and stronger adults.

I’m also not talking about a family that bickers and argues all the time. They would be better off in another city.

I’m talking about the family that loves and cares for one another. I’m talking about my family. I love them.

Fortunately, for all of my grandchildren, they spend lots of time with extended family….aunts, uncles, grandparents. I may not see them as often as I would like, but they spend time with family often and that is good.

I just wish they all were closer.

Note to Family: There are many reasons for not being closer. I know and completely support those reasons. All of you are doing a great job and all of your children spend time with extended family. I’m just a little blue today and wish that all of my family was in my backyard!!! –>

It’s been a rough week

That is the gist of what one of the great senators from California said this week. Of course she lumped a few items together that were totally unrelated and juxtaposed to one another. I’m sure it made sense to her, but not to me.

But, that is not the issue. It WAS a rough week and will continue to be rough for those who lost loved ones in the tragedy at Virginia Tech. As a parent, my heart goes out to those who lost children in such a heartbreaking way.

But, a few days earlier, two lovely people in LaGrange, Texas also lost a daughter. They knew it was coming. They knew she had an illness that would eventually take her life. But, I’m not sure that makes it any easier.

Heather Wiggins died this past weekend of Scleroderma. She was only 36. She was diagnosed when she was about 20. That is a long time to live with a disease for which there is no cure.

Heather was my daughter’s best friend. They were majorettes together in the 7th grade. They knew each other’s most intimate secrets. In 24 years, they never had an argument.

It’s hard to lose that kind of a friend.

But, it’s also a joy to have had that kind of friend. My daughter was truly blessed to have known her.

Please pray for this mother, father and sister that lost a precious family member. Please pray for my daughter who lost a friend.

And to Heather I say…We’ll meet again.

–>

Visit to doctor yesterday confirmed what we already suspected. Granddaddy is responding VERY well to all treatment. All the remaining tumors in his lungs and liver are shrinking. There is no swelling in his abdomen and his liver is greatly reduced in size. No new growths have appeared. More…