"Anna and I were riding in the 'stang' on our way home after one of our sponsorship updates talking about our dinner to be made when we got home. Anna volunteered to cook the meat and I was going to prepare the rest of the food for the taco's. As we talked about this all the sudden the staff in the car that heard us talking started laughing extremely hard. I had no clue what they were laughing about figured it had to be something that I had said. Anna and I were quite confused and asked what we had said wrong...they asked us if we were having 'tacos' to which we replied yes, another round of laugher came from them. Mama then turned to us and explained that in their language that ment 'butt'. Turns out we were having 'butt' for supper!"
This is just one of the many memories I recreated yesterday at Rice Care Center in Willmar, MN. I loved every second of being able to share my experience with someone! I was asked many questions as to what we ate, what kind of gardens they had, what was my outfit for, etc. All of them coming from the most adorable lady in the front row to my left. She was so interested in what I did, so excited to hear and so proud of me! The adorable little lady in the front row was my Grandma Ryks!
Over the course of the past couple months she has suffered 2 major strokes and who knows how many mini strokes that aren't recorded; YET there she was front and center acting as though she was invincible! I have been so impressed with this women more so in the past couple months then ever before.
Growing up I was not very close with her...we would visit on Sunday mornings after church but all the kids went downstairs to play. I had High School where I could have gotten to know her but was 'too cool' and only heard how stubborn she was. I had college where I took off to Northwestern College in St. Paul, coming home only for short visits; in that time the only words I would say is 'I'll see you later Grandma, Love you!' as I was hugging her to go. She would look deep in my eyes and say 'You should come around more often!' I would tell her I would try and then be on my way. Now I am home living in Prinsburg, working in Willmar literally not even 5 minutes from my Grandmother and yet I can't 'find the time' to visit with her.
It is incredible how selfish I have been in my years growing up and even now, BUT during the few moments before my 'speech' I was talking with this strong, stubborn, beautiful women. I saw her break, it was only for a moment. She told me that she felt bad she wasn't there for her husband, my grandfather, in this time. He hasn't been feeling the best and she had tears in her eyes when she told me that she felt guilty she wasnt taking care of him. My heart went out to her! She was sitting there like a little girl unable to do anything to help, looking at me for an answer and I had none. She wasn't going to be able to go home and take care of Grandpa, she can hardly take care of herself...yet in this moment she didn't care she just wanted to make sure he was okay. If only that is how all of us would be, SELFLESS! In recreating the past I wish I could change how I was through all those years of growing up and learn a little lesson from Grandma on how to be truely selfless!
LOVE YOU GRANDMA!
