Magrande's Birthday

"After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air." - 1 Thessalonians 4:17

Yesterday would have been my paternal grandmother's 84th birthday. Ernestina Aldape, also known as Magrande by loves ones, passed away four days before her 79th birthday. After work yesterday, I met my parents and siblings at the cemetery in Edcouch, TX. I love going to visit my grandma even though I don't usually make time to go. I feel so at peace there. I like walking by and reading the tombstones. I wonder a lot about the people that ended up there. What was their life like? Did they love and feel loved? Do they get visited by friends and family? That last question is sometimes easy to tell. There are many tombstones that are decorated with beautiful flowers, bright colors and artifacts like Magrande's; however, there are a lot more that seem abandoned. When I go, I try to fix some of them so they do not look so sad. I like to think that it is a way of showing some affection towards those who might now have loved ones around or whose loved ones do cannot go by. Yesterday, we said a small prayer and sang "Happy Birthday" to Magrande. It was very nice. I miss her but I am not sad because I know Magrande is watching over ALL of us.