The Parting Glass

Wednesday night the world lost one of the sweetest women in existence, my great grandmother Rita.

She was a baker of wedding cakes, a football lover a birdhouse crafter, and worked on a military base during WWII.
She was a wife, widow, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.
She always had a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye.

She lived an incredible 92 years.

I saved the card she mailed Kyle and I for our wedding- because it always made me smile. Inside the cover she had tacked in a poem that she had cut out. It was taped inside the card with her address stickers, above it she wrote 'Alex - Kyle "advice"':

'THE THRILL OF COOKING'

No doubt you think the man you wed
Can always live on love
You'll find that this is just as false
As stars are true above
Ask older wives, I'm sure this fact
You'll find none to dispute
When the honeymoon is over
You'll have to feed the brute
The heart throbs will be over
With the honeymoon 'tis true
But the Gnawing in his stomach
Will last his whole life through.
Sometimes you'll think as years go by
You've lost his heart, THE LUMMOX
It isn't gone, it still is there
But its moved down to his stomach
If you would keep his heart in place
You'll find it all too soon
You'll have to feed his stomach
Always MORNIN', NIGHT and NOON.
I'm sure you'll want to keep him
Handsome, hale and healthy looking
So heed my words, leave off the love
Take up THE THRILL OF COOKING
And when St. Peter gives the word
YOUR MAN'S NEXT ON THE DOCKET
Stick by him to the end, my dear
PUT A SANDWICH IN HIS POCKET.

-original poem written by Estelle Branck

What a hoot right? It is sweet, funny, and old fashioned. Just the kind of advice I love to get from a grandmother at my wedding.

This woman led such a long and joy-filled life, that's all any of us hopes for right?

I did this little drawing on Wednesday, it was inspired by this song. It's kind of triumphant, but about saying goodbye. It's a tiny tribute to such a great lady. (though my writing got a little sloppy in the end!)

While I wish I could have known her better, I am so grateful for the time we spent together. I look forward to hearing more stories about her life in the future.

Until we meet again. 

Love,

Alexandra