From Above
Somewhere in the Sky
Late evening light shines across a sea of clouds.
I took this photo in 2017 after my flight took off from Pittsburgh, PA. It was an emotional trip visiting my hometown. I had gotten to visit family that I hadn't seen in a long time, including my grandmother.
I remember the last time I had seen her before then which was in 2012, again on a visit back to Pittsburgh. I remember her goodbye. I remember the way she looked in my eyes and cradled my face in her hands when she said the words. She knew... I knew... that it might be the last time we would have that chance in person.
She was a very spiritual person. She prayed on her rosary every day, and when I moved back to Pittsburgh for a short time, I drove her to church every week. She wasn't pushy about her beliefs. She simply held them in her heart and expressed gratitude for the life that she had. Every. Single. Day. The only thing that she was devoted to more than her faith was her family. She lived for her children, her grandchildren, her great grandchildren. Never once did I see her unhappy or angry. Never once did I get anything but the most loving attention from her. She was the epitome of a loving grandparent, complete with personalized sweatshirts bearing the names of her many grandchildren.
It was hard to go back in 2017. I knew that I would have to cross that emotional bridge again.. that I would have to say goodbye again. As much as I wanted to see her and for her to see me, I didn't want to put either of us through that. But I had to. I had to give my son the opportunity to as well.
And maybe that time in 2012 WAS the last time. She had long been failing by the time we got back there again and she wasn't exactly sure if she knew who we were. But I got to look in her eyes, kiss her forehead, and tell her I loved her one last time and I have to believe that deep down... she knew.
Photo © copyright by TJ Thorne.