My grandmother left this world last night... the term "young at heart" can sometimes be thrown around fairly easy, but there's probably no one more deserving of this title than my grandmother. She believed if she simply refused to grow old, she could stay young until she died. And in a way she did just that--- because she was and forever will be
"Always Young At Heart"!
"Nicky was glamorous, with movie star appeal. She left beauty where ever she went; spent some time in Hollywood, modeled in vogue magazine and no matter what cards she was dealt, she forever looked on the bright side of life."
Nicky was a vivacious woman, who was always with the times and in fashion. She kept her hair a vibrant red and often wore a bold lipstick; she thought life was too short to wear boring clothes and was a leading icon of fashion, far more stylish than myself! Growing up we weren't allowed to call her grandma it simply wasn't done, as it just sounded much too old for her, so we opted for a cool nickname and called her "Nicky Mum" instead; she liked that and so did we!
Not All Woman Are Cut From The Same Cloth.
Nicky Mom was dedicated to nurturing her family and had a big heart, very welcoming, and was always looking out for everybody in the neighborhood. She single handily raised two children on her own. It takes a strong person to be a single parent and take on two roles. (Any woman can be a mother but it takes a "bad ass mom" to be a dad too! )
A Smile Is The Best Make-up Any Girl Can Wear.
If you were down on your luck and having a hard day Nicky would tell you "Sometimes you just have to pick yourself back up and carry on. Keep your chin up and never take your worries home with you -or too bed". That being said Nicki did just that, choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude, when life gave her hundreds of reasons to cry, she would show life she had a thousand reasons to smile!
In All These Years No Matter How Nicky Was Doing, She Always Kept Her Shit Together.
Life was tough, but she was tougher. Nicky always looked her very best, baked my dad a carrot cake for his birthday, a fruit cake for Christmas and somehow managed to send us all birthday cards and beautifully wrapped Christmas gifts every year -for over 35 years!.
Nicky Loved The Postal Service And Nail Polish And Used Them Both Often.
No she didn't email, text message or Facebook but she had 8 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren's and knew them each by their very unique sanskrit names, remembered all their birthdays and mailed them special gifts no matter which country or continent they lived in. Which I personally think is an incredible feat as I struggle to remember even my own, and if you are my friend you will know I'm a terrible gift giver (sorry).
A Girl Should Be Two Things Classy And Fabulous!
During Nicky's time here on earth she wore heels and leopard print leggings, baked for her neighbors and kept a beautiful home and garden. I always said her home could be preserved as an art museum with all the beautiful treasures she collected over the years. Being well travelled Nicky had special little things from all corners of the earth. As a little girl I loved to go to her house and just marvel at it all, there were so many little beautiful treasures and things to see from far away places, and you could spend hours just walking from room to room taking it all in and looking at everything; silver goblets from India, and hand carved stone elephants from Africa, glass grapes and Moroccan cups ...and of course everything had a special little story of how it came to be there. Packing up her home will be so hard and heart wrenching, because she loved each and every little thing so dearly. Now where will it all go? Hopefully to someone who equally treasures it. It makes me think when you go to the thrift store how many times that crystal bowl up on the shelf has been loved and what stories it holds within it from all those that came before you?
The Question is Not Whether We Will Die, But How We Will Live!
Losing a loved one makes you open your eyes a little wider to the world around you and pause to reconsider your own life and your purpose here, to stop and ask those deep life questions who am I? What's my purpose ? Am I heading in the right direction? " Fast forward my life 60 years from now and will I look back and know that I have done my very best and lived my life fully, for my highest purpose and calling? Tomorrow isn't promised to anyone, young or old alike, our time is coming it's just a matter of how and when? There is no lease or rent agreement on our body and life, we could be kicked out anytime!
"Nicky never really talked about God much, but I know she secretly believed in him. She taught Sunday school when she was a much younger woman...and although Nicky didn't outwardly live the life of a saint, in the end she called for him and left this world with true class and style! "
Sometimes What We Call Pain Is Actually Healing in Disguise.
The day before passing when my sisters were visiting her bedside, and the pain was to great to bear, Nicky took their hand and cried out to God "Please God help me" as my sisters sang sweet lullabies of Krishna's (God's) Holy Names to her, I have faith that in those last waking hours her cries were heard and she was held and comforted.
I know that taking shelter of God is the only way to be truly free from the suffering of this material world. When she finally took her last breath and her soul was separated from her body Nicky peacefully floated away like a butterfly on the soft breeze of Krishna's (God') Holy Names. She is so loved by God; and her whole family left behind, and we continue to pray for her-on her spiritual eternal journey home.
Everyone Of Us Is Fighting Our Own Battle. Different Circumstances But Same Heartbreak.
I think a lot of people find themselves crying in despair. But how many turn to God, and how many turn to pills, or alcohol, or suicide? Let us stand in faith even when we are having the hardest time of our lives. In happy moments, praise God. In the difficult moments, find shelter in God. In the quiet moments, trust and remember God. In every moment, thank God. Let us rest our restless hearts and minds in the sweet sounds of Krishna's (God's) Holy Names and be transported home. Always remember Him, and never ever forget Him.
Dearest Nicky, now that you have passed away after living to a ripe old age of 93 years old, If it's ok with you I'm going to call you my "grandmother", because after all is said and done- you have more than earned it!
Much love to everyone that reads this,
Radha Kauai xo
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