It's been almost two weeks since I lost my grandma. She passed away at the age of
89. For the past two years, she let it be known on more than one occasion that she
was ready to go, she just didn't wait well. She's no longer waiting now. I was there
when she left this world as gently as though she had finally hitched a ride, on a
breeze that swept her up and out in the blink of an eye.

As I sat with my grandmother, my mother at 71 is there along with her brother who
is 65. There we are, 3 generations all in one room. Bound by blood, we are told
death is eminent. Soon, they tell us. Soon. Seconds pass into to minutes, and
minutes pass into hours, until death floats in, like a breeze that sweeps her
up, and into her final destination she passes quietly. It's at that moment I
come to an understanding of why she wanted so desperately to leave. I finally
grasp a sense of belonging that occurs only at this moment. Never to come my way
again.

You're never as prepared for death as you would want to think. It's expected to
happen to all of us, but no one's able to tell us what it's like to die. We all
know someone who passed on before us, but they've never been able to tell us what
the "dying" part is like. I'm not afraid of death itself, but it's the unknown of
how it will occur that guides my fear.

When all is said and done, and the arrangements are in place, the family descends
upon us. Among the tears, we're able to sprinkle in just enough laughter that
helps us through our grief. We shared memories that strengthened our unity of
family, and with that, we also allowed a time for healing to take the place when
an unbearable sadness happens because of death.

After the service, we once again gather at my home, and I watch intently how
we're all bound because of this "woman" we called Grandma. It's fascinating to
look at relatives and see just exactly where you came from. Nothing creates
belonging like family togetherness be it sad or glad. It's what we do with
our life's that matter to our loved ones the most.

Families are who, and what we are. It's our responsibility to maintain an open
line of communication, and with communication comes a sense of belonging that's
only found within the lines of family. To treat family as anything less, is
disrespectful not only to those that came before you, but most importantly, to
those that will come long after you've passed.

Learn more about this author, Melody Hearndon.
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