I felt like my breath had been taken away when I learned that my grandma, Debbie, was critically ill. Gran interrupted the doctor as he was outlining the available treatments.
“I’ve had an amazing life,” she remarked with a soft smile. “I’d rather enjoy it in my final days than struggle for it.”
My throat constricted as I sat there, clutching the edge of my chair. Not because I didn’t respect her decision—I did—but how can you get ready to lose someone who has been your rock, your refuge, and your beacon of hope?
I was lying awake that night thinking about her. The way her laughter could lift the gloomiest of days, the way she used to sing while cooking, the way her fingers were gentle when she braided my sister’s hair. I wasn’t prepared to part ways. However, I could ensure that she would know how much she was loved when the time came for her to pass from this life.
I then began organizing the ideal day for her.
She glowed like a Christmas morning child when I informed her we were going out. Carefully choosing a deep green dress, the same hue as the one she’d worn on her first date with Grandpa, she took her time getting dressed. She tied a pearl necklace around her neck, her hands shaking a little.
As I assisted her into the car, she said, “Where are we going, Cody?”
I smiled and said, “You’ll see.”
The botanical garden was our first destination. She gasped as soon as we entered. Her favorite flowers, orchids, were everywhere, their fragile petals fluttering in the little wind.
Her eyes widened as she faced me. “Oh, Cody!”
The gentle sound of a saxophone filled the room before she could say another word. The artist played “What a Wonderful World,” a tune I knew by heart, while standing a short distance away. The song that had been performed at her wedding was the same one.
I extended my hand. “Gran, may I have this dance?”
Her laughter was sweet and a touch wobbly. “My dear, you’re going to bring me to tears.”
Nevertheless, she took my hand.
She told me about her first dance with Grandpa, how he hugged her close and said that she was beautiful, as we swayed to the music. For a brief moment, she seemed to be reliving the enchantment of that night as a young lady in love.
However, the true surprise wasn’t the botanical garden.
“Where will we go next?” As we made our way back to the car, she asked with a lighthearted sparkle in her eye.
“You’ll see,” I repeated.
On this occasion, I took the car to the eatery where she and Grandpa had spent their previous date. Even though it had been years since she had visited, her face instantly recognized us as soon as we entered.
“Oh my.” She murmured as she observed the well-known furnishings, the tiny lighted tables, and the antique piano in the corner.
We were shown to the identical table where she had last sat with Grandpa by the staff, who had been more than willing to assist with my plan. A gentle smile flickered on her lips as she brushed her fingers across the tablecloth.
With sparkling eyes, she remarked, “I remember this place.” “I told him I would just have a salad when he ordered the steak, but I kept taking bites off his plate.”
I laughed. “Classic.”
The lights went out before she could remember anything more. A screen dropped from the ceiling as a projector buzzed to life.
The film then started.
It began with a monochrome image of Gran giggling in her mother’s arms as a young child. Then there were photos of her wedding day, the birth of her children, and her dancing barefoot in the meadow as a teenager. snippets of her teaching me how to ride a bike, cuddling me as a baby, and singing in the kitchen.
Her life unfolding in front of her.
As she watched, tears ran down her face. She grabbed my hand and gave it a firm squeeze.
She muttered, “I—I don’t know what to say.”
The lights then turned back on.
She spotted them at that point.
Her loved ones, friends, and relatives were all gathered around the eatery, grinning and applauding. Some of them had traveled just to be there for her, while others she hadn’t seen in years.
Overwhelmed, she covered her lips. “Oh my god…”
One by one, they stepped forward to give her hugs and express their gratitude for her. The evening evolved into a lovely celebration that was full of stories, music, and laughter.
Time seemed to have paused for a moment.
She turned to face me with an expression of unadulterated affection as we sat together, her hand still in mine.
She declared, “This night is the most beautiful night of my life.”
And even though she was leaving us shortly, I knew at that very moment that she would know how much we loved her.
Because love is found in the small things, the memories we make, and the time we choose to spend with the people who are most important to us, not only in the big gestures.
Therefore, don’t wait if you love someone. Now celebrate them. Tell them how much you value them. Because that’s what really counts in the end.
Would you do something similar for a loved one? Please share this tale with anyone who might need a gentle reminder to treasure their loved ones, and let me know in the comments section.
