Rudyisms on Death

Recently, Rudy had to deal with the death of his Great Grandmother (Paul's Gram) and our cat, Mario (who I've had since the summer after I graduated from college). He handled both very well, with lots of questions and comments, but few tears. In the midst of the funerals and burials, he made some classic statements.


~At church during Gram's funeral mass, pointing at the casket, "Where is Gram's head? There or there?" (Pointing to both ends of the casket)



~Also during the funeral, while looking over my shoulder at the rest of the people in the church, "There's a lot of old people, why didn't they die?"



~While at our church on Sunday, a few days after the funeral. "I want to go to the other church, where Gram was."
"Remember, Gram's not there any more. She went to the cemetery."
"Let's go to the cemetery and dig her up so we can see her again."



~ Talking to family members about the fact that Mario died, Rudy chimes in and says, "Like a cemetery is for people, the backyard is for cats."

Losses

Paul's Gram passed away June 21, just a few months away from her 90th birthday. She was an amazing woman, the matriarch of the family, and, the grandmother I always wanted, but didn't have growing up, since neither of my grandmothers lived nearby. I remember after meeting her a few times, and calling her Mrs. L, she told me, "Just call me Grandmom. Everyone calls me Grandmom." She was an amazing lady and will be greatly missed.

I'm so glad Rudy really got to spend time with her every week, and she just adored him.

Gram didn't get herself in many pictures,but here are two of my favorites:

Gram and Rudy at Halloween.

Gram and Mom at Gram's 85th Birthday celebration.

The same week we lost Gram, we also lost my cat, Mario. The summer after college, the cat we'd had since I was in first grade passed away. At the end of the summer, my mom was ready to get another cat, so we headed to the shelter. I decided I would get a cat, too, so that when I moved out of my parents' house, that cat would come with me. I didn't pick Mario, he picked me. There was a large room-sized cage that held all the domesticated cats. Mario stood at the edge and just meowed and talked to me ad I was sold. Of course, if I had realized that he would continue to 'talk' so much over the next 16 yeas, I might have reconsidered. He was a cat with a lot of personality and expected all his needs to be met how and when he wanted.

Lucy hanging out with Mario.

Mario and Dusty getting along for a brief moment.

Rudy and Mario- best buddies.