My grandpa is 88 years old and is dying of cancer.  I'm not expecting any miracles of health, but I am praying everyday that his heart would soften and he would let in Jesus.  My mom (Abiga51) is having a hard time dealing with her "daddy" dying.  It is hard for me to understand the whole "daddy" idea, because me and my dad are not close, and I only have maybe 4 "daddy" memories.  My mom talks about her dad in her blog, Abiga51.  Look under "From Grandma to Bamma to Abiga", and please leave some encouraging words for her. 

I remember going to my grandma and grandpa's house every holiday, as a child.  My grandma made the best polish food.  Of course, I didn't like it until I grew up....  She would make polish sausage, saurkraut, pierogies (cheese and saurkraut - I only liked potato which she only remembered 1 year), ham, mashed potatoes and gravy (ah, finally something for me to eat), and dumplings (those came when I got a little older -YUM!).  There was also cranberry mold and jello mold.  Don't forget the dessert!  She always had kolackys, banana cream pie and... drum roll please...  blueberry cheesecake.  It was the simplest cake, but my older brother looked forward to that every year.  On the end tables there would be Fannie May turtles and cashews.  When we sat down to eat, my grandpa always sat at the head of the table, and my grandma never sat at all.  She would refill the food and keep it warm.  My Uncle Paul would come to the table from the back porch were he lived, eat, drink a tall glass of milk, and then go back to the porch, saying maybe two words.  I remember after every meal, my grandma and grandpa would do the dishes together.  Back then I thought it very strange.  When my dad still lived with us, he didn't help my mom at all, so I didn't really know a man was supposed to pitch in.  After dinner was all cleaned we would gather around the tree with the cute little village under it, and open presents.  And after presents came bingo.  I loved bingo.  My grandma would have presents wrapped up for prizes - nothing great, but fun anyway. 

My Grandpa was a hard man to read.  I remember him telling jokes (so I thought), but then his face would be serious.  So I never knew if I should laugh, or apologize.  But I remember, at my 8th grade graduation, my Grandpa, walking up to me, hugging me and crying.  WOW, a man, my Grandpa, crying.  I also remember, walking down the aisle, determined not to cry, but almost losing it when I spotted my Grandpa, teary eyed.  

The last few years we spent Christmas with my husbands family.  Last christmas I told everyone that this year we would spend Christmas with my Grandma and Grandpa.  All year I looked forward to it.  As Christmas neared, my grandpa got sick.  He was in and out of rehabilitation centers, until finally he had to be put into a nursing home.  We were afraid Christmas wouldn't happen.  But my grandma said if we set the table, she would cook.  Hurray!  I got my wonderful Polish Christmas that I had missed so much. The yummy food was still the same (which I now love it all!), but that was about it.  My grandpa wasn't there.  It was strange, seeing his chair empty, but nice to know at least he was still alive.  My grandparents had moved a few years ago, so it was a different house.  My grandma actually sat down and ate with us.  My Uncle Paul (who got his own place when they moved) actually talked (but still had his big cup of milk).  There was no tree and no village.  No bingo either.  But we had a great time.  I am so glad we got to be there for Christmas this year. 

Don't forget to visit Abiga51, please!