Grandma, Marie Semple
That's my grandmother, Marie. She was the matriarch ("queen mother") of our whole family. She brought everyone together at Christmas time; the oatmeal always tasted better at grandma's place. She would make this incredible "chili sauce" too! My cousin Andrea (who is becoming a nurse in her footsteps) and I were speaking about the shaggy carpets in the living room of her place, or jumping down the slides at the playground beside her house or going for family picnics at Pinafore Park in St. Thomas, Ontario. My dad "won" the billiards/pool table (away from my uncle Darren & his sisters) when grandma moved on to a different place. Her new house was more seniors friendly.. or so it seemed, and we would enjoy playing cards together. Her favourite game was 31, where you get 3 vigs (or pennies) and then you're on your honour. She was a psychiatric nurse, and an incredible caregiver for her entire adult life. She worked so hard at Sunday family dinners, and sweat like crazy through entire holiday dinners. She insisted on cooking & providing for my late grandfather Murray (who was an RCMP & OPP officer). My proudest moment of grandpa was when he served as a bodyguard for Gordie Howe (Mr. Hockey) while at a charity gala event in town. He absolutely loved hockey, and would be a goal judge for all of the "St. Thomas Stars" hockey games, the local "Junior B league" hockey team. I remembered as a kid spending a lot of time at the rink, so naturally hockey is my favourite past time in sports!
Dementia, or Alzheimer's disease
Dementia never stopped my grandmother, but was onset after a tragic medication issue. She was dealing with a lot of pain in her legs and body from fibromyalgia, and she had suffered a stroke many years earlier. Not much stopped my grandma, she was an inspiration! I would try to get her to go for walks with me, when I'd visit the house. Often it was difficult for her (the pain), and she preferred to sit on the couch and watch REALLY LOUD old Western movies with John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, etc.. or she'd watch the Days of Our Lives soap opera on TV. I said "goodbye" (or so it felt) to her at the nursing home during COVID. It was more difficult as time passed, she said on a sunny day "maybe it's going to rain, we should go inside" (that was her way of saying I'm tired and the visit is over) but before that, I asked the nurses if she was allowed ice cream. I drove down to near Port Stanley, Ontario and grabbed a tub of Shaw's chocolate ice cream. I'll never forget this, even though my grandmother probably didn't know who I was when visiting her.. she said "a lot of good that'll do ya" (while eating her ice cream and smiling) its these memories that give dignity to seniors, and proud memories for the children & grandchildren to move on forward with forever.