Remembering Grandma Bolek: Three Months Later

Hard to believe that 3 months have passed since Grandma Bolek passed away. On one hand it feels much longer ago than that given how much has changed in my life since then. It also feels like it just happened yesterday on another hand.

After mourning her loss, we soon had Mother's Day a few weekends later. It was a clear reminder immediately after her passing that her presence will be missed. It also was a reminder (hopefully) to all of us that knew her to appreciate our mothers a little bit more based on the example that she set.

Seeing the for-sale sign by her house just doesn't feel right. The fact I live around the block from the house makes me choke up every now and then when I see the sign.

I remember all the great times me and my siblings had as kids going over there, from playing Store to the Clothespin in the Bottle game. There was never a dull moment over there. Easter eggs hidden, my cousin Bobby dressing as Santa for his younger cousins (me in that group), the smoke-filled poker games using the table that me and my friends use whenever we do play poker. The list of things I remember is longer than that, but you get the picture. It was an awesome time over there.

I'm happy to say that I don't think I took having a grandma living around the block for granted. In my older years, I loved taking Buddy for a walk to her house- something I actually did the afternoon of the funeral as Lauren walked Pixie. It was sad seeing Grandma's best friend Emmy (her dog) all alone in the house that she kept my Grandma company in for almost 10 years. The night of the wake, I went over to my grandmas around 1am and sat on her bench just absorbing everything that I could from the backyard that I spent my childhood in.

Since Mother's Day, two times have come up this summer where I was expecting to get a call from Grandma. The first time was when I was alone at home when my folks went on vacation. She was always good to check up on me to see how me and the dogs were doing when I was to myself. The other time was during this heat wave that just passed. I was waiting for her to call to remind all of us to stay inside and stay cool if possible. She was always good for sharing motherly advice with our family, no matter how silly and obvious the advice was- like putting a winter coat on in 5 degree weather. It was always nice to know that she was thinking of us.

I know this is all disorganized here, but I just wanted to convey what it's been like since my grandma left. In my wallet, I still carry the card I got from her wake. I like to look at it to remind me of everything that she represented. It makes me smile to look at it.

When I open my wallet, this is something I often see.

In the meantime, I will cherish the time that I have left with my other grandma. I hope Grandma Raynor lives another few decades and gets to see her grand kids have grandchildren like my Grandma Bolek did.

I hope she is resting in peace as we speak.