Celebration of a Life

Tammy Miller, mother, sister, daughter, friend, and my co-grandma-to-be, left this life- suddenly and tragically- on Monday. Her sons, Ashley (my Heidi's beloved and father of their expected child) and Aaron, age 12, never thought they would be without her so soon. She was only 49 and, we all thought, in the prime of health.
"It is good that the world is round. If it was flat, we could see too far ahead and know what awaits us." This is as close a quote to a statement made in my favorite movie, Out of Africa.
I didn't know Tammy well, but we had just gathered at Heidi and Ashleys' on Memorial Day for a cookout and Tammy and I first talked about our future grandchild. She was so excited, and had talked about her plans to babysit as much as she was allowed, and had even mentioned moving from her long established apartment so the baby could have her or his own room.
And now, we are left with memories and sorrow and mourning what might have been. Ashley and Heidi will become parent figures, at 27 and 24, to a 12 year old. Aaron has lost the most important person in his life. This grandchild will know his Grandma Tammy only from photos and stories, and I have lost the joy of sharing this grandchild with her. But we will all step up to fill the void left by her absence, and be the parents and grandparents we would have been , but more. We'll tell her stories and do things in her honor and memory. We'll celebrate her life even as we miss her. And we are all reminded, yet again, that tomorrow is promised to no one. Today is a precious gift.