Today, my family and I are laughing and crying as we remember the life of my almost 90-year-old grandfather. He is one of the strongest characters in the story of our family, and our memories seem endless. At dinner tonight, I remembered a beautiful passage from a book I recently read.
The Hummingbird's Daughter is the story of Teresa (Teresita) Urrea, a young girl who was believed to have healing powers given to her by God after rising from the dead after three days. After her ressurection, she speaks with the old curandera, Huila, about life after death. Huila is worried because she knows she will die soon, and Teresita says that she will not be able to come back the way she has. Huila is somewhat afraid of death. But, Teresita reassures her that is like when you have a baby that is refusing to fall asleep. You know it's what their body needs, and you are sure that as soon as they fall asleep, their face will have that look of peace, and they will even smile and sometimes laugh. So, you endure their screaming and squirming because you know how important that sleep is and that is the only way to achieve that peace.
Fifteen years ago, my grandfather dropped dead in the living room. An off-duty police officer heard my grandmother's 911 call and arrived in time to do CPR until the paramedics arrived. The whole family gathered around him to say goodbye, but he wasn't ready to say goodnight just yet. He fought, and he fought hard. That fight allowed him to see four grandchildren graduate both high school and college, two grandchildren get married, and two great-grandchildren enter this world and giggle at his touch. Today, he laid down for a nap and never woke up. He was finally ready to say goodnight.
