Thoughts on the death of my grandmother
This morning, around 12:35am CST, I got a text from my mother telling me my grandmother, Nanny, had died. She had been hospitalized earlier in the day, and the diagnosis was grim. She was 69. She was my mom's stepmother, but I grew up with her as my grandmother. She was a retired RN and it was because of this I learned of the immense value of nurses and realized THEY are the ones you want on your side. She was a great Nanny. She attended very wedding, bar mitzvah, graduation, and major event in the lives of her grandchildren (all 9 of us), and her great-grandchildren (18), and even had three great-great-grandchildren. As my husband describes her, she had a very bubbly personality and loved to laugh. She also, like me, loved chihuahuas. My last text exchange with her, a few weeks back, was her thanking me for sending her money and she ended it with, "I love you and (your husband) very much. Love, Nanny".
Nanny was very accepting and open with understanding I was gay. She even tried to set me up once. That didn't take. 
She absolutely adored my husband and once told me, "You have yourself a good man, honey. You better be good to him and not let him go!". Of course, it all went back to when I was 21, and we were in the Bahamas at a casino, drinking Bahama Mamas, and she just blurted out:
"I love you. And I don't care who you love. You are my grandson and I will always love you!"
After picking my jaw off the ground, we talked for hours. She wanted to know everything. She even commented on the guy I hooked up with down there by saying, "Wow he's got a nice butt! My grandson has great taste." Kinda funny to hear your grandma say something like that!
When she met my then partner, now husband, for the first time, she walked up to him, hugged him, and said, "Call me Nanny. I am your grandmother now." I was always treated with respect by her and she demanded it of others.
While I am very sad, I am still happy that I, at 48yo, still had a grandmother. She was my last grandparent. I will miss her very, very much.
ETA: I wanted to say "Thank you" to each one of you who took the time to respond. It lifted my spirits on a very sad day. I will try again, but know I really appreciate it. (I am having problems with DU not loading correctly after multiple postings.) From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!
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Sorry to hear it
I found myself smiling and nodding all through it.
I am sorry for your loss! But in so many ways, she will always be part of you. Please take care of yourself and remember her always...as if you could do otherwise!
I'm sorry for your loss, but glad you have such lovely memories to hold on to. I'm also a big chihuahua lover.
Those are beautiful memories of your Nanny, hold them tight.
big hugs to you.
She was a very good grandmother.
She sounds like she was a lovey!
I am so sorry for your loss. I am glad that you had such a wonderful Nanny and that she loved and accepted you for who you are. She sounds like an absolute gem. My condolences.
I hope my grandsons talk so lovingly about me after I pass.
nice tribute, so sorry for your loss 
Like sergeants in an army, nurses keep hospitals running smoothly, while doctors (like generals) get most of the credit.
Sounds like one helluva broad! I'm truly sorry you didn't have more time with her.
and so wonderful that you had such a loving grandmother with plenty of moxie to go around!
Your memorial of your Nanny here touched my heart deeply, BtA. She was an all to rare jewel of a person, and my heart is breaking for your loss tonight.
My deepest condolences to you and your family. My thoughts are with you.
