Sunday April 22, 2012

We’re here on Earth Day to bring closure to and celebrate a life on Earth that was well-lived. For me: Grandmother—but also daughter, sister, wife, mother, great-grandmother, aunt and great-aunt and more but in the end all the names still add up to Joelmae.

In April, four years ago almost to the day, I wrote in some notes the random quote: “Can’t be anybody but myself.” I didn’t put where it came from so either she said it, or I just figured she would have.

I also figure that seeing this family and knowing how many other family members and friends are thinking about her fondly today would be pleasing to her. She touched many lives and each one was forever changed by knowing her but she wouldn’t really want the credit, she wouldn’t want to be the center of attention, and she certainly wouldn’t want any fuss so I have to preface all this by apologizing to her because we’re going to do some of that today. Read more