Grammy Barber

While we were in Yosemite Mom called and told us that Grammy Barber had a stroke and was taken down to the Pittsburgh Hospital. They had the blood clot stopped and they thought she was doing ok. The next couple days was like a roller coaster of emotions. She would be doing really well and then there was more bleeding in her brain and then it looked better and then while we were in Sequoia National Park we talked to Dad and they didn't think she would make it through the night. It was neat being amongst the giant sequoias that day. They are 1000s of years old and tall and strong. We saw an information sign near one that had fallen trees saying how even these giants aren't immortal. We always thought of Grammy Barber as immortal too. She was 86 ½ we she passed away on October 11^th. She had fallen down the stairs when she was 80, broke her hip and fine just a few weeks later, she had some heart trouble too, but she was tough and mentally sharp as anyone could be. It was a huge surprise to everyone. Especially Pop, he kept saying when we were home that “we talked about this and I was supposed to go first”.

We got the news that morning... after triple A came and unlocked the keys out of Adam's jeep so that we could use his phone. It was the only one with service. She passed away at 7:30 in the morning after Mom had sat up with her all through the night. Mom left to go outside for a minute with Dad and that's when she decided that it was time to go. I guess she was able to hear everyone while she was in the the hospital and even Annie & I got to talk to her on the phone. She couldn't talk to us but they said she could hear us talking to her. We drove 5 hours down to Orange County to Melvin & Helen's house. Melvin was Grammy's “older brother”. We were able to find and book a flight home while we were driving to their house, so when we got there we were able to visit with them and some of the family for a few hours before we took the red eye flight that night. It was probably the most miserable flight of our lives. Neither of us could really sleep, I had broken out with hives and my whole body itched. We flew to Newark and then got to Pittsburgh at 7:30am. Sarah & Nate came down to pick us up. It was so good to see them. The whole family was able to be home for the viewing. It was hard going to the house and on top of losing Grammy, Rosie wasn't there with the other dogs either. Mom & Dad had to put her down a few weeks earlier.  We were so happy to be able to be home with the family through all this though.

The next few days were a blur. My hives went away after a couple days, Claire informed me that my “faced looked normal” then Annie broke out with a rash all over her face and body which turned out to be poison oak that she probably got while getting firewood back in Sequoia NP. Being home makes me remember why I appreciate the sun so much. It rained almost everyday we were home and if it wasn't rainy it was probably cloudy. I think we had our last 2 days there with some sun. The rain was fitting for how we all felt. So many people came to the viewing and funeral it was really amazing. She was truly a special woman.  She would always pick the most beautiful bouquets; she picked this one just a few hours before she had the stroke.   Then this was a poem that was found in Great Grammy Barber's diary.  Our Grammy Barber definitely lived life this way. It was easy to see how loved she was by so many by the beautiful abundance of flowers that were at the funeral.  

I would rather have one little rose from a garden of a friend 

than all the choicest flowers when my stay on earth doth end.

I would rather have the kindest words, and a smile that I can see, 

than flattery when my heart is still and life has ceased to be.

So bring me all my flowers now please, today. Be they pink, or white, or red. 

I would rather have one blossom now than a truckload when I'm dead.
--- Minnie Mae (Great Grammy Barber)