Grandma's Letter

The return address sticker told me it was from my dad,
so I opened up the letter, and this is what it said:

The funeral was last Friday.
We flew the body back to Bismarck on a jet.
Everybody was right on time. Grandma would have liked that, you bet.
After all she suffered, in some ways it's a blessing that she's gone;
We know you couldn't be there,
but the family felt your presence all along.

I'm enclosing in this letter a note to you she never got to send.
I hope it makes sense to you - you
know, she got a little crazy at the end.
Now, we're back home in Oregon.
After all that snow, the rain feels good somehow.
Love from your mom and me.
I guess from here on, we're the old folks now.

The letter smelled of Ben-Gay, and Campho-Phenique and stale perfume.
From the Happy Manor Rest Home,
smellin' just like I remember Grandma's room.
It was written in a tiny hand, I had to hold it real close to read.
Writin' isn't easy,
when you're crippled, nearly blind, and ninety-three.

They treat me pretty good here,
I've got a nice young doctor that I like.
He tells everybody he's gonna run away with me some night.
I've been eatin' better, but still I'm getting thinner every day.
I've been sleepin' pretty good, and find a lot of comfort when I pray.

My roommate, Mrs. Campbell, is startin' to steal from me again.
First she took my readin' glass,
and yesterday my Christmas fountain pen.
And that old grouch Mr.
Sloan is spreadin' tales about Doc Nicholson and me.
I swear this is a nuthouse,
you would not believe the things I hear and see.

Your dad drops by on Sundays,
drives me out past the orchards and the farm.
Seems like only yesterday, your dad was just a baby in my arms.
We went out last Sunday, but the rain made it kinda hard to see.
I know he's awfully busy, but his visits sure do mean a lot to me.

They phoned my father early on a
Sunday morning just as it turned light.
We're sorry to inform you, sir, your mother passed away last night.
Mom and Dad had breakfast,
and they took a drive out through the country air.
Dad told me later, it was the first sunny Sunday of the year.

I'm glad I knew my grandma, and I believe that we were truly blessed.
Yes, I believe in grandmas, and I thank God for giving me the best.