they seated me next to her at the table ...a small quiet elderly woman who was obviously out of the loop but did belong there....it was her grandson's graduation from California Maritime Academy in Vallejo California
i started to talk to her because i was kinda out of the loop too...she seemed surprised that i would dain to converse with her.....she was so nice and it wasn't long before we were both laughing
in 2005 Bobby and i came down to SandiEggo to take care of her in the home as her Mexican caregiver had to be off 3 weeks after a Gallbladder removal....it was during that time i found that Miss Millie was a true joy to be around
when Bobby and i moved to SandiEggo we often helped his first wife Joann out by spending time with Mil.....they lived together in Mil's big house in T Town...Tierra Santa....
she taught me to play Spite and Malice...a card game...with little need for anything but luck and practice...she beat the pants of me for months and months before i learned that there was a certain skill to it....
she told me all the old timey stories about when she was young....she had the personality of a small bright eyed bird...happily chirping....she taught me all her favorite recipes...made from scratch
i let her help cook....snap the beans...order me around in her quiet charming way...no one else had involved her in the day to day running of the household in many years....she was 95yrs old you see....everyone in the family thought she'd live to be 100yrs old....i did too
2 months ago her caregiver Lupe had some trouble at the border...her car was confiscated and she couldn't get new papers and permission to return for 6mos....and Miss Millie was without her help during the day when Joann was at work or some Nursing meeting here or there....so i volunteered...and why wouldn't i...Mil treated me like another daughter...always thanked me upon leaving....sometime cried and asked me not to go.....and when i would arrive she would be like a happy puppy when it's friend came in the door.....Millie gave me such needed affection...and i in kind did the same for her....
on Wednesday Miss Millie died.....quite suddenly she went into congestive heart failure and left by Paramedic Ambulance and died 2hrs and 45mins later....i was there to see her off into the unknown at Sharps Hospital
i will miss her....all of her Mothers Days card have arrived....flowers too
family members from all over the country will be at her funeral on Tuesday....3 children...11 grandchildren......and so many great grandchildren i can't even count them
M.....Millie a matriarch of the finest quality one might ever want
O.....Outstanding in her love of others ..family or not
T......Teaching others a kinder way to live
H......Happiness giver to all who knew her
E......Effervescence personified
R......Remarkable in her attendance to familial connections
Heaven will be so happy to see her...and a glass of red wine and a card table are waiting for her appearance
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Miss Millie....i guess i won't be driving you to see all your friends for Bunko...Tripoly...senior meals the first Monday of each month....getting you up early and presentable for home communion on Friday mornings
toasting "a familia" after dinner each night......writing the names on envelopes....and reading the mail and newspaper to you because you couldn't see that well anymore....looking thru all the photos family sent...each new great grandchild born...laughing at your favorite card from your 94th birthday...the one that had a fire siren sound when you opened it says...Happy Birthday Millie...."burn the town down"...lololol.....
the 99 cent store on Thursdays to buy your favorite canned sardines
and fulfilling your most important wish...the see Walmart before you died...we took you there and rolled you around the whole store...who knew that would be a dying wish ???
you never tired of poring over all you old cards and pictures and having me reread them all to you...a pleasure dearheart
hugging you...kissing you...telling you how much i loved you and having you tell me the same...what a gift !!!!!
so freely given to the second wife...one who should have been a pariah on the scene but ordained another daughter to her....such a loving mother
lucky me
the only word in Spanish you learned from Lupe was "caliente"....and that's not where your headed milady.....
i love you...Nan
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