Innermost Thought

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December 29, 2002

Myrtle

When I first saw my Grandmother this Christmas she had this weird brown flake on her cheek. It looked like it was a piece of plastic or some flaky food that was stuck there. I started to wipe it off as I asked Grandma what it was. It turned out to be some kind of growth. She slapped my hand and said, "Don't touch it! It's fine. It's been there for awhile. It doesn't bother me and I don't bother it and I am not going to a doctor!!!"

To which I promptly replied, "Well, I can see you have gotten this question before and you seem pretty steadfast in your position so okay."

Apparently the thing had been around for awhile and all of her 8 children had harassed her about having it looked at. After asking her with whom she was sleeping (there was a premium for sleeping space this night) she replied, "Just me and God." So I asked her if I could bunk with her. She nodded the affirmative and I said, "Good. Then it will be just you, me, God and your friend there on your cheek." She laughed at my irreverence as she so often does and the offending mark was all but forgotten.

It's amazing the thoughts you can process in the course of a brief conversation. Grandma has not been to a doctor in probably 40 some odd years. She says she doesn't like going to them because their diplomas never say if they were A, B or C students. She has a point. I also think she is of an age where she could make peace with the direst of consequences when an unusual mark makes a home on her person. While I might not be quite ready to see her go, perhaps she is ready to take the next step where macular degeneration and worn out ears don't matter...if that step comes to her. So in that briefest of moments I tried to steel myself for whatever may come, say a prayer for a good end, whatever that may be, give Grandma some peace about the situation and make the best of it.

Later that night, at Kathleen's Christmas Eve feast, I informed Grandma that I had named her mysterious guest "Myrtle". It seemed like a Myrtle for some reason and if it was going to be around for awhile it should have a name other than "that thing on your cheek". She replied, "Bullshit" and laughed. Score!! I had gotten the famous curseword from Grandma. My mother who makes a pasttime out of squeezing such mostly forgotten profanity from my grandmother would be jealous. I wasn't even really trying either. I scored another bullshit later on, again without trying, but I forgot why. The name Myrtle took and soon all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins now referred to the pox with said moniker throughout the night's festivities.

A Christmas Miracle (Myrtle's Goodbye)

The next day at Mass and true to her inherently mysterious nature, Myrtle left Grandma's face without so much as a by-your-leave. She had been keeping house there for at least a year so her rapid departure was somewhat of a surprise. Perhaps Myrtle just wanted a little love and attention, or identity to say the least. Once given, she felt her duty was done and left for age-ier pastures. Perhaps God heard my brief prayers and whispered to Myrtle to leave a good woman so loved by her progeny alone. A snotty woman from our family's past in a fit of ire and trying to offend once gave us the title "God's Family". I was barely born at the time. She was meaning to insult but it backfired. We took to that title as truth. It's hard to refute. We have had our misfortunes to be sure but in over thirty years we have, as far as I can recall, only lost one of us. And the important things like health, family and love have all been stored in abundance in our family coffers. So Goodbye Myrtle, whatever you actually were. Perhaps we will see you again, but for now I am glad you are gone. Nothing personal.

Posted by mermu at December 29, 2002 12:57 PM

Comments

Posted by: at January 3, 2003 03:06 PM

Posted by: Elizabeth (cousin) at December 30, 2002 03:13 PM

Posted by: Kambri at December 30, 2002 02:55 PM

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