My grandma was the first chronically ill person I ever met. She suffered from emphysema and was confined to a couch and bed for the last 7 years of her life. I slept over at her house often. She was desperate for company, and I, less than nine years old, was desperate for attention. We were best friends.
At night, we’d share a full-sized bed and recite the Lord’s Prayer together. “Amen,” she would say as she pulled the covers over my head.
And then she’d fart. Purposefully. You can guess where I got my sense of humor.
Although grandma’s body was failing, her mind was sharp. She spent her days watching “Murder, She Wrote”, playing handheld electronic poker, and completing crossword puzzles.
I can’t imagine seven years of confinement WITHOUT INTERNET. (It was a big deal when she got a cordless phone.) I wish I could ask her how she kept her sanity. Did she really like crosswords or did she just need to keep her mind busy?
Yesterday, I created a crossword puzzle. I don’t even like crosswords. Of course, I’m also terrible at them. However, I needed something to do, something to distract me from feeling sorry for myself for missing out on summer.
Sometimes, we just need to keep busy. So here’s a crossword puzzle for you to enjoy:
Hell’s Bells and Mast Cells Crossword Challenge
…unless you don’t have mast cell disease. Then you won’t enjoy it, because it’s full of ridiculous MCAS terms that no average person should know.
If you complete the crossword, please let me know in the comments below!
Thanks for the crossword puzzle — it was good nerdy fun. Thanks even more for the wonderful story of you and your grandma — beautifully told. I had a quirky grandma that I really loved, too.
Thank you!
got it all except for 12 across forgot how much I missed crosswords
Excellent!
Aww, bless your grandma’s, heart. I am so happy you have those memories of her. And I wish you all the best and much strength to get through all the crap you are having to deal with. Summer is overrated.
Thank you for the encouragement!