Honoring Cathy

    Yesterday, November 10^th, we laid Graham’s Grandma Cathy to rest. The past few days have felt so hectic, but have been filled with love and family. It wouldn't feel right to skip over the details in regards to one of the best Alexander's I know.

    On Thursday, the 6^th, I had the day off, so I drove Graham to his job and worked on some homework that was due. Within a few hours it was apparent that some changes had occurred in Cathy’s condition at the ICU and we were all asked to immediately come in. Graham’s immediate family members (the ones who live in town) joined us by her bedside in saying our goodbyes. It was my first experience of being with a person during such an important time, as such I was emotional and deeply saddened. But I can vouch for the spirit in the room that perceptibly changed as one by one we shared our favorite ‘Cathy story;’ everyone giggled or smiled and we all thought loving of the lady who had invested so much in each of us.

     In the following day more family came to town, there were more details shared about specific things in her life, more picture albums scoured through. To celebrate her life, we attended a really personal, detailed wake. Later, the funeral was a perfect homage to her life; Graham was the first of 3 speakers from the family. His talk, occasionally touched with overwhelming sentiment, gave example after example of her love for him. His beloved, so so beloved, Grandma Cathy was his true friend. We rounded out the service with one of my favorite hymns:

"Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!"

     Visiting her house the first time after it happened, I found our Christmas gift we’d given her the year before… And it made me think about her last year, which we clearly didn't know it would be at the time, and how frequently it seemed we were able to do things as a family. What a magnificent blessing. At the end of everything, I told Granddad just how special everything was, truly how superb each part was. I couldn't help but weep when he responded, “I just really wanted to honor Cathy.”  And it just so happened, I think she was.

Oh Cathy, you will surely be missed.

Until we meet again.

We love you.