D is for D-Day, and those who've Died

An Alphabytes Entry

Sadly, this was not planned.

Thinking of death today. The passing of a great president, a great man, Ronald Reagan. The anniversary of D Day. Last night, they went to live footage of the anniversary of the day, over there in Normandy. They kept talking about the fact that it was likely to be the last big gathering of it's kind. Because of the Death of the Greatest Generation. It's breaks my heart to think that Generation is being lost to us so rapidly. My grand parents were of that generation. My grandmothers both still live. Though we are literally awaiting word of the death of one. We are losing members of this generation and my heart is heavy for the loss.

My grandmother who is dying, lost a brother in Normandy, on D Day. His name was Miles Osmer. Their family's pain was so great they'd not discuss him for so many years.

My mom's parents were young during WWII. My grandmother was 18, my grandfather was 20. He was a handsome sailor on shore leave, she was a beautiful young woman working as a Rosie Riveter. She became a war bride over night and he went off to fight in the South Pacific. He was awarded, but refused a purple heart, for an injury he felt unworthy of the medal. My grandfather on my mom's side, died in 1981, two weeks after we got to Berlin. It was one of the saddest times in my life.

Last year, I was at my mom's, moms house. She and I were on our knees going through a trunk. She stores so many things in this trunk...It's a precious jewel to me. There was an envelope in the bottom of the trunk, and I picked it up and opened it. I'd never seen it before this. She jerked in a funny way, and I realized, too late, that it was painful to her. Inside the envelope, there were precious papers. One of which was a telegram from my grandfather, telling her he was coming home from the war. He was headed to San Diego and that he loved her desperately and could not wait to see her. I'd never seen this before. While he's been dead for nearly 23 years, it was still too painful for her to look at. Still too painful for her to take comfort in, rather than brace for the pain of seeing it. With todays war waging, I understand this thought process. While the telegram and other contents of the envelope are something I will take comfort in, I understand her pain.

My grandmother is an incredible woman. She was a working woman when others were Betty Homemakers. She is 81 years old and blonde, not grey (Thank you Clairol!). She always looked like a movie star when we were kids. She is still beautiful. She is healthy as a woman who is 60 and she is so sharp, it's scary. The woman reads hard fact science every day. She reads about history and sciences, politics and health. She misses nothing. She and my mom are about all that's left on this side of the family. When we lose her, our family will have lost our greatest treasure. I hope someday, I am the woman she is. She often tells me that I am for sure my father's daughter. This is a compliment, but I hold in higher esteem when someone tells me that it really shows that I am her grand daughter.

I dread day my father's mother dies, however, she is ready to go, and has been passed in death by two of her children and her husband. She is a staunch Catholic who doesn't fear her own death. She is a woman of an age that is rapidly being lost to us. I will mourn her passing too, but understand her desire to move on.

So today, it's D for Death, D-day and the greatest generation.

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