For years I have been keeping a blog about the many joys of being a grandparent, first to May, then to Eloise. As a teacher of young children, I regularly kept anecdotal records of my students as they progressed through the year, so writing a blog seemed like a natural segue from my teaching career to my life as a grandparent. My purpose for starting a blog was primarily to share my experiences as I ventured forth into the new and exciting world of being a first-time grandmother. It was also my hope that one day, far into the future, May and Eloise would revisit their wonder-filled childhood years and relive them through my words. However, Eloise, always a step ahead of this Yeayah, was not about to wait until “far into the future.”

Recently, Eloise was looking for something to occupy her time. Knowing that I had often written about my times shared with her and her sister, she asked my daughter, Nancy,  for the name of my blog. What better way to pass the time than to read stories about herself?

After a while, Nancy went into Eloise’s room and found her daughter sobbing out loud. Thinking that Eloise might have been upset over the fact that I had so freely used her name in my blog, Nancy comforted Eloise and asked her if she was crying because the entries were too personal to be posted for all to see over the internet. Turns out that wasn’t the case. Eloise was sobbing because the blog brought back so many of the treasured moments she had shared with her Yeayah, moments that were once again resurrected as she read through the pages of the blog.

“I love her so much,” Eloise sobbed

“I don’t want her to die,” Eloise sobbed.

Nancy, taken aback by the depth of meaning behind Eloise’s words, was faced with a dilemma. Does she skirt the issue of Eloise’s fear for Yeayah’s mortality or gently meet it head on? Nancy chose the latter.

Holding her daughter in her arms, she told Eloise that her Yeayah will one day die, but right now she is full of life, enjoying every living moment with the love and closeness of her family and her two wonderful granddaughters. I’m sure that Nancy further allayed Eloise’s fears, but one thing is certain, she put emphasis on how fortunate we are to be sharing all these special moments while living.

When Nancy related the story about Eloise’s blog experience, my thoughts traveled in so many different directions. I thought about how Eloise’s curious nature led her to read the many stories that I have poured my heart into these past years, stories that allowed me to capture and hold onto magical moments I shared with my granddaughters. I thought about how my desire to leave behind a record of these moments is already reaping the rewards of my efforts. I thought about how my writings surfaced the sensitive topic of death while a loved one is still vibrant and alive, thereby enabling us to enjoy and appreciate the times we currently share. As for my mortality, fortunately it is something that I rarely, if ever, think about.

To Eloise I say, “thank you.”   You have given me a glimpse into what I had hoped to one day be the outcome of my many years of writing anecdotes about you and May; you are seeing your world through my eyes!