The Face in The Window

"The long goodbye" is a reference to those suffering from Alzheimer's but it always makes me think of my Grammie. For as long as I can remember, every time we would leave my Grandparent's house my Grammie would cry and say goodbye and that it was the last time I was ever going to see her again. Then we would back out of the driveway and see them standing in the window waving goodbye for as long as they could see. For the past ten years since Grampie passed, it was just a solitary face in the window.

When I was little I was scared and truly believed it was the last time I'd ever see them, because they said it so it must be true! As I got older I just realized Grammie didn't deal well with goodbye and at her age, it really could have been the last time! Grammie reached 101 years of age and passed away just weeks shy of her 102nd birthday. Even though we've been saying goodbye all of my life and it was obviously inevitable, it came as a shock! I think I had really started to believe she might outlive us all and took for granted she would always be there.


She was able to die in the comfort of her own home with both of her children there. She lived a life longer and fuller then most. I'm sad that the last time I saw that face in the window it truly was our final goodbye. It is a reminder of how short and precious life is, even when one reaches 101 years. As we backed out of the driveway for the last time, I know we were all thinking the same thing and missing that face in the window.