Today was an extremely painful, emotional and overall just difficult day that I have not been looking forward to. Today, I had to say goodbye to my great-grandmother, Pearl. Something even more painful was watching my other family members say goodbye to her. Tears of frustration, pain and guilt fell from their eyes. If goodbye has taught me anything, besides the fact that I do not like it, I have learned that time is uncertain. We are not guaranteed anything while we are here, and we do not even know how long it will be for. I regret not visiting my grandmother while she was in the nursing home a few miles from my house. I am not going to start making excuses for myself, because I do not have any. I wish I could take it back, but I do see the beauty in a goodbye, because I still, and will always have the good and funny memories with my great-grandma.

I’ll never forget sitting in her living room helping her snap apart the beans and when my great-grandpa would joke around with her in the backyard about garter snakes chasing her. I always enjoyed visiting her and I will truly miss her, but I do know that she is at peace finally, and her suffering is finished. My great-grandma was a beautiful lady and I really wanted to wear something to represent her. Along with my blue nail polish (because blue was her favorite color) I chose to wear my black and pale pink dress Solemio dress. This dress is simple, and pretty, just like my great-grandma.

Goodbyes are difficult, and that is the only thing I don’t love about having a large family, because that only means there will be many more goodbyes, but I will always have my memories of grandma Pearl. She taught me to never quit fighting, and that family is the most important thing in our lives. I’ll see her again, and I will be able to thank her for that, but until then, I will just reflect on the time I had with her, and cherish the precious time I have left with my family.