One More Thing

Laura and Ellie

Ellie passed away last Friday, about 4 or 5 hours after I left from visiting her. I was lucky that I got to see her before we went our separate ways. I was lucky that I got to tell her that I love her and that I always looked up to her. And I was lucky to be able to tell her some of the reasons why.

She was one of those people that occupied a unique place in my life - which I guess, when it come right down to it, everyone does, one way or another. But with Ellie, it was a little bit different. It was always kind of special when we got to see her. And even though she lived further away than most of my other relatives, I had always felt close to her.

Maybe it was because, when I was little, we would spend so many summers with her and my grandmother. Or maybe it was because of the Christmases we shared together, many, many years ago. While I’m sure that’s all a part of it, the reality is that those times could have been difficult if they had spent with someone I didn't care for.

Many years ago, when Ellie was preparing to move out of her home and into a retirement community, she had to deal with giving up a lot of family heirlooms that she she couldn't take with her. These were things that that had been in the family forever and they were special to Mom too.  So, Mom flew down, and I followed a few days later, and we loaded up a truck full of memories for Mom to take home with her. 

In the very early morning, as Mom and I were about to leave, Ellie took me aside and in a hushed voice, she thanked me for my help and she told me that she hoped I knew "how very much this means to your mother."

I had almost forgotten about this, but it has come to mind in the last few days. And as I think back to it, what strikes me about it is that it wasn't so much about thanking me for whatever it was that I was doing. That was part of it. But what really seemed to be important to her, was knowing that Mom was happy.

For some reason, in ways I can't articulate, what she had to say, and especially the way she felt comfortable saying it, says a lot, at least to me, about Ellie.

Eleanore, Mom and Ed