The Michelin Family: Kittie Sue Hipp Price

February 2, 1922-October 7, 2009

I come to this blog tonight with a very heavy heart. My beloved Grandmother has passed away.
As most of you know, my Grandma has been battling lung cancer for almost 2 years now. It's been a long hard road for her. She tried to fight it; but sometimes, even when you try everything, it doesn't work. She did last a lot longer than the doctors thought she would. We were told back in April she only had about 2 weeks to live. She made it much longer than that. She was at a rehab facility for the last months of her life. But despite her odds, she always kept a smile on her face and NEVER complained. I complain when Cole gives me a hard time. I can't imagine knowing I was dying and in pain, but not letting anyone know. We went to see her often. Cole would run in the room and shout, "Hey, Grandma!" You could just see her sweet face light up. We really believe it was all her family, including all the great-grandkids she has coming to visit her that kept her alive for all these months.
Over the past few days, I've had some time to reflect on some of my most favorite memories of my Grandma. I remember Wes and I would go spend the day and sometimes night and Grandma and Granddaddy's house in Hopkins. They had a walnut tree in their backyard, and we would sit there in the garage and Granddaddy would crack open the walnuts and we'd just sit and eat and talk. The entire family would gather at their house for holidays and eat and talk and laugh; we had the best of times. When we got a little older, my parents, who were then in Amway, would go to meetings every Tuesday night, and my grandparents would come over to watch us. We would watch Wheel of Fortune and Rescue 911. Every night, we'd also sit at the kitchen table and play UNO. (Still my favorite card game.) Wes and I would ask her if she had a specific card, and if she didn't, she'd say, "Neigh, Bob!" We thought that was so funny.
Do you remember the stupid cartoon on MTV, "Bevis and Butthead?" Wes and I told our grandparents they were cartoons and we wanted to watch them, never thinking they'd pick up on the truth behind that! How dumb were we? They started slapping each other and said something crude, and my Grandma was like, "What kind of cartoon is this?" She immediately turned it, of course! Hilarious!
And to top of my favorite part of those Tuesday nights, my sweet Grandma would sit on the side of my bed and hold my hand until I fell asleep. Literally; even if it took and hour. Oh, the love of a grandmother.
I remember on a very sad day in September learning that my Granddaddy died. I was devestated, but not nearly as much as Grandma was. I was 12 at the time, so I didn't quite understand what it meant to loose a husband. Now, that is unthinkable to me. She'd spent over 50 years of her life with him. And just like that, he was gone.
But, she was a strong woman. She picked herself up and kept on living.
I'll never forget how she always came to Grandparents Day at school for me, how proud she was at my graduation, and how much she liked Eric. She looked beautiful at our wedding.
She was most excited about her great-grandbabies. She just wanted to hold them all the time. She was really in love with Cole. And when Raleigh was born, she and my aunt came to the hospital and passed around that little pink ball of love. My Grandma was so proud.
She was hospitalized very soon after that. I guess we all knew it would come, especially when the chemotherapy didn't work. It made her so sick, too. She finally quit with it and decided she wanted to live the last days of her life feeling like herself. It was hard, but I understood her decision.
I was with her often the last few days of her life. I literally watched the life in her fade away. I was so upset over the way she was on Wednesday, the day she died, that I prayed to God for Him to have mercy. She was in pain and barely hanging on to life. That was the hardest thing I've ever witnessed. But, I think what was harder than my own personal grief was watching my Daddy. That was his mom. My mom is my best friend; I seriously can't even think about that. And yet, my dad was face to face with it. I tried to be strong for him; I didn't want him to know how bad I was hurting in hopes it would be a little easier for him. The night she passed away, I sat in the room with her and my dad. She was sleeping at this point and looked tired. Like she had been through battle. And she had. I wanted to stay there with my dad, but he insisted I get back home to Eric and the kids. So, I went home. She died an hour and a half later.
I should have been there. My dad shouldn't have gone through that alone. Of course, he tells me I didn't need to be there, but I disagree. Maybe it would have been easier for Daddy to have someone by his side as well. I am having a terrible time with that.
My only regret is that Cole and Raleigh will never truly know her. Of course, her memory will be kept alive through my stories, but it's not the same. I wanted them to know her on a personal level.
I am trying to celebrate her life, and I am most thankful to God that she was my Grandma. But, I can't help be a little selfish and say I wish that she was here right now.
She's not hurting anymore.
She's in Heaven; what's better than that?
She's back with Granddaddy again, the love of her life. Enough said.
If you have some time, please visit www.MeM.com. Type in Kittie Price in the search box and check out my awesome Grandma. I recommend watching the video instead of the individual pictures. This was what was played at the funeral home.
We laid her to rest today. I'm hoping I'll sleep tonight, but probably not. I'm sad. Much sader than I let be known.
Below are a few of my favorite pics from the slide show. Check out my dad; what a stud! :)
Grandma-
I miss you and love you. Take the picture Cole and Raleigh drew for you and show Granddaddy. Tell him I said hey. I know you're in Heaven and pain free. You are face to face with Jesus, now. I love you so much, Grandma.