Oh, To See My Grandma Dance!

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A couple of days ago my cousin Rick posted this short video clip on Facebook taken twenty-six years ago at his wedding reception featuring my Grandma Farner on the dance floor.  As it begins, Grandma is dancing with my Dad to the song, “Misty”.  Soon my Uncle Ronnie came up and tapped him on the shoulder to cut in, followed by their brother Bob then my cousin, Rob and his brothers, our cousins, etc., etc., etc. as if they were lined up of screen to dance with Grandma; each taking a few turns with her before being tapped on the shoulder by the next.

It is such a sweet scene and to say I was enchanted by it would be an understatement.   Aside from the fact Grandma’s been gone for many years,  I’d never seen her dance before! Mesmerized, I tapped the start arrow over and over again to catch a glimpse of the family gathering one more time with Grandma gliding across the dance floor in the arms of some of the men in her life who loved her very much.

More than a few times this week, I’ve sat here at my desk, blank screen before me, attempting to wax poetically about the experience of seeing these people so dear to me in a way that fully expressed my feelings and emotions but it’s been tough.  Since Rick’s wedding, we’ve said goodbye to several of the featured “stars”.  Grandma, my uncles, Bob, Ronnie and Bruce and my Beautiful Aunt Dorothy, Rick’s mother, have all passed on to the next life.  Being able to see them for even a few seconds, to recharge my memories was  a Christmas miracle to me and a priceless gift.

It was like peeking into heaven; a grainy vision of family celebrating family, smiling and dancing, and mostly, loving.  I’ve always imagined heaven to be something like that.  In my mind’s eye, I see my grandparents sitting at their kitchen table, with Grandpa in his chair at the head and Grandma at his side, in close proximity to the stove.  As each family member passes on, I see them entering the kitchen from the side porch door, grabbing the coffee mug with their name on it from the shelves on the wall and then joining Grandma and Grandpa at the table for some coffee.  The room is warm, everyone is happy.  What could be more perfect?

Thanks Rick for sharing that little glimpse of your special day.  I can’t really say I miss the people in the video who have passed, because I feel them with me all the time; we are all woven from the same cloth.  But to see them, to be reminded again was so precious.  There just aren’t words.