A Little Bit of Everything

Hotel: So today at the hotel we had a wedding reception. It was beautiful. There were people everywhere. As the night progressed, the more they drank the more soft spoken everyone became. I know, I find that odd too. The smell of booz still lingers in the hallways. It really reaks! The newly married couple is staying at the hotel but were still downstairs with their friends after 11pm when I got off of work. The reception was at 4 this afternoon. So you can imagion how drunk these people were after 7 hours. S.M.A.S.H.E.D! That about sums it up. I admit I love my job. Of course like most people you would love to make things better. I have my own ideas on how things should be done, but I choose to keep them to myself. The owners of the hotel try so hard to get things accomplished. They never seem to be able to get them finished. Over the next month I'm sure there will be some kind fo changes made. Not sure if I'll like them. But I'll come to that bridge when I get there.
Grandmother: My grandmother died a year ago this July 2nd. I spent the first part of the day remembering her and the love she had for the family, the things she did for all of us, of how she always had time to get everything done and still spend time with the family she held so dear to her heart. I often wonder if she can see me and the things I do. I know she wouldn't approve of them, but she'd still love me just the same. My eyes were full of tears the better part of 2 hours at work. The wedding party had a piano player playing music for their reception. My grandmother played the piano so well. I wish I had stuck with it. I miss the smell of Este' perfume, her soft hands, and her sweet sincere voice. If I ever had a problem, I could call her, talk for a little while and hang up knowing everything would be ok because she said so. I stopped by their house on Thursday to see my grandfather. He wanted me to stay so badly. He's so lonely. He spent almost 63 years with my grandmother. He doesn't know anything else. She used to pack their suitcases when they went on trips, she cooked all the meals, drove everywhere for them. He's not learning how to do everything for himself. Don't get me wrong, they both worked together for everything. Neither one did more than the other; it was just in different areas. I would give anything to be able to hear her voice once more. The day before she died, my grandmother went into a coma. I felt like something was wrong so I called my dad while I was at work. He said she had just slipped away into a coma and it was any time. I got off work and went over to see her. She was lying in her bed, gasping for air, jaw slightly open. She looked like she was sleeping. I sat beside her bed, held her hand, and talked to her. The moment I started talking to her her breathing regulated. I wanted her to wake up and talk to me so bad. I wanted to talk to her long enough where she would get enough oxygen to her brain she could tell me a story of her childhood, anything she could have shared with me because she woke up. But instead I did all the talking. I told her everything I could remember from when I was little boy through the years growing up, seeing the house in Marshall changing, ageing. I faught my tears for about an hour. The entire time I held her hand feeling the softness of her skin touching mine, remembering those words of "Well Hi Clint!!!!!" when I walked in the door, the letters I would receive every week from her while she sat under the hair dryer at the local beauty shop. The funny thing is I have every letter she wrote me over the last 3 years. It's like I was preparing myself. Anyway, as I finished my conversation with her I told her "I love you Mamaw, and I'll see you soon. Don't worry about Papaw, he's going to be okay. I'm not going to say goodbye because Heavenly time is but an instant. I'll see you again and we'll have our talks like we used to." It was the hardest thing I have ever said to anyone, let alone my grandmother. I felt like she was sitting there wanting to talk to me but couldn't. They have proven that people who go into comas are able to hear everything you say even though they can't reply to you. My grandmother was the most influential person in my life. She was also the first person to die in my family since I was born. 24 years. It is a blessing I know. I will always remember the fun we had together, the dreams we shared with one another and the special love a grandmother and grandson could share. I love you Mamaw.