POEM- Grandma: the Patient in 132

This is a working poem. I wanted to write it down now, so I could honor her memory. She was a beautiful, kind, smart, feisty, and generous woman. I miss her every day.

My first trip without my parents.

Once I stepped off the plane, I felt big.

Three minutes later, I felt terrified and alone.

Two figures walked up to me. The woman took

One of my hands and squeezed it

Three times and exclaimed, “I love you.”

To the rhythm of the hand pumps,

Once again making me feel safe.

Three theme parks,

In two weeks, sacrifices she makes for me.

As she sat down, grandma handed me a bowl,

"Wonderful!" I exclaimed looking down at the

Three scoops of chocolate ice cream

Together all is right.

Once more we play a word puzzle game. A

Three letter word ending in Q? impossible you’d think. Well maybe

To you. S... U... Q. I

Won again. “Well you only had

Three more points than I” she smirked.

“Touché,” I smiled back.

Graduation was here.

One special day long awaited

Three family members from

Two states away came to witness. She gave me

One band, inscribed with

Three letters: CTR, banked by

Two stones. A gift to remind me of the

One, to whom I’ve devoted my life. Given at

Three pm before my biggest accomplishment from the

Two people who have always supported me.

We sit at her kitchen table over a map.

“One highway, connecting our

Three households brings Solace

To my heart," she comments. I roll my eyes

One day I would understand. When at

Three PM I am rushing to their home

To see her for the last time. driving on that

One highway. Just

Three more hours

Tomorrow she will be gone

We beg for more time. Plagued by thoughts of the

One more letter we could have written,

Three more ‘I love you's’ we could have uttered,

Two more phone calls we never made. Now, all we get is

One more hand squeeze

Three more breaths

Two more heartbeats

And then the memory of the woman more than a patient in

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