Tarts and Cookies

Some of you may have read the post on Loss regarding the loss of my MaMom (grandmother) whose soul left this earth on November 23, 2020 to be with Jesus. Shortly after her passing we noticed, what seemed to us, the sudden decline of my PaPop (grandfather), her husband.

On New Year’s Day, I saw it for myself and became concerned. He was confused as to where he was and even made the comment to my Mom that her mom was waiting for him at home but she knew where he was so he wasn’t in a hurry. My Mom had to remind him that she was no longer here and had passed away. Because of his confusion my Mom and I brought him home, her driving his car and I met them there to pick her up, because we didn’t want him to become more confused on the way home and forget where he was going. While getting him settled at home, he asked me if I wanted to see MaMom and it was a picture from her funeral service that was hung on the wall above his chair. He walked up to it and said, “Hey pretty lady” and I couldn’t stop my tears from forming. He told me that he talks to her everyday and that morning he realized that she was dead. My heart broke for him and we just shed some tears together for a moment. I had no words to comfort him because I can’t related to that loss. They were married for over 65 years. They were the best of friends and went everywhere together. Until November 23rd, it stopped and his whole world was gone.

He had two seperate admissions into the hospital following New Year’s Day. During the last stay, he was diagnosed with Sundowner’s Syndrome. Sundowner’s Syndrome is when a person’s personality completely changes once night begins. I have not personally experienced this for myself in anyone and have heard that its heart breaking and frustrating at the same time for those caring for the patient/family member.

On January 27th, my Mom got a call from his nurse stating that he had a really good day that day and he even ate. We were all glad to hear this news. The following day, palliative care and hospice was called in for a meeting to discuss his end of life plan because he had declined quickly. My Mom got a call that if the family wanted him home when he takes his last breath, they needed to get him home that day because they did not believe that he would be alive much longer. He arrived via ambulance about 5:30 p.m. and took his last breath around 7:00 p.m. He went and met his Bride that he had missed so dearly. He no longer desired to be on this earth without her and I believe that God granted his desire.

They were a power a couple that has left so many great memories for so many people, not just their family. Every person they crossed paths with was left with some kind of token of them. A lot of people will remember them for always making the coffee at church and eating PaPop’s handmade tarts and tea cookies. They were servants for Jesus. They loved unconditionally, as best as they knew how. They welcomed everyone into their arms and home. They cooked meals upon meals for families outside of their own. They just had a heart after God’s will. They wanted to see souls saved.

I remember PaPop always having a big peppermint log around Christmas growing up. He always had a pack of gum next to his chair. He always had mints in his pocket. I remember going with him when he would wax floors of businesses and clean. I remember picking figs off of their fig tree and him saying that the steam had to be cut off because the white substance will make you itch.

My favorite dessert dish that he would make was bread pudding. I don’t know how he did it but it was so good!

Yesterday, we were at my parent’s and my Mom asked if we liked PaPop’s fig tarts and I told her yes but that I couldn’t eat them yet. I told her that I have some at home in the freezer that I’m just saving because I can’t bring myself to eat them. It’s the last of what his hands made. She felt the same way and said she couldn’t either. We could probably carry on his tradition of making tarts but the difference is, they weren’t done with his hands and with his love.

They are missed so dearly. We will reunite in Heaven again one day and I look forward to it!