I'm so lucky that I've known all my grandparents so well.  One of the benefits of being the oldest grandchild on both sides is that I can get old before I actually start losing people I'm close to.  I have so many memories of my grandma, and I want to write these down before I forget.  My grandma was one of the best bakers I know.  She always had cake or fudge or divinity when we went over to see her.  And on the rare occasions she didn't have some baked good, she would apologize about a dozen times and force us down to get ice cream or popsicles from the giant freezer in the basement.  When I was a kid, she once made all the grandkids several pairs of four-paneled shorts with funky patterns.  (I loved those shorts, and I wish I still had them.)  She loved babies and would spend entire visits with whichever kid happened to be the youngest sitting on her lap.  She used the phrase, "Well, hell" to start out so many of her sentences.  It's so easy to her hear her voice in my head right now saying, "Well, hell, I don't know what I'm going to do with so-and-so" or "Well, hell, I think I'm going to turn in".  And she was clever and funny and fun and sarcastic.  She always had cool toys, and she knew how to play with them.  She looked out for her family and loved us despite all our faults.  She loved to quilt, and she was the first person who taught me how to tie off a quilt...not the last, and someone will have to teach me again if I ever take up the hobby, but I'm still glad to have the memory.  After Dan and I were first married, Grandma would send me home with a baby quilt every time we visited as one of her not-so-subtle hints.  Jokes on her though, because I waited five years on purpose in order to build up my collection.  

My biggest regret is that my kids won't know you as well as I did, but they can get to know you through my dad, their grandpa.  I think the best thing about my grandma is that she was my dad's mother.  She's the reason he's so good with children, and she's one of the reasons he has the best sense of humor.  She's one of the reasons he has such a great work ethic that he passed on to his kids.  She's got to be the reason he's so good at expressing his love and pride in his family.  I loved Grandpa, and I know he loved us, but Grandma was always the one to shower hugs and kisses.  Anyway, the tears are free-flowing now, so that's healthy at least.  I'm so happy you've moved on and no longer have the limitations placed on you by your body.  I love and respect all your decisions, and thank you so much for sticking it out as long as you did for all of us weaklings.  I think though, that if I were to some day follow in your footsteps, I would have a big party and eat lots of ice cream, I mean it's really a celebration, right?  I love you grandma, and I will miss you until we meet again.