Remembering Rose...

Recently, I was given the toughest writing assignment of my career:

To write my grandmother's eulogy.

Let's face it, writing a speech that sums up a person's life is a daunting task.  But this wasn't just any person, this was Grandma Rose, and for those who knew her, and know my family, she was larger than life, the matriarch; mother of seven children; grandmother to thirteen grandchildren and twelve great children.  She lived to be 94.  She was strong, beautiful, loving and generous--and her spirit runs deeply in each one of us.

Never have I wanted to succeed with a piece of writing so much.  Not for me, but for my whole family--and for Rose--to honor the brilliant, exuberant way she lived her life.

When I asked my mother (a writer) for her advice, she said: "Just write about who she was to you--and  make it... make it... wonderful."

Phew, no pressure.

Seeing my worry, mom looked me in the eye and said, "I know you can do it, you know you can do it, and I know you will make me proud." At that moment, I knew I would too.

Later that evening, as the cursor on my blank white screen blinked in anticipation, I let the memories of my grandmother flood in, and wash over me.  Then I wrote. And wrote. And wrote.

And it was wonderful.