The world works in ways that we, that I, can’t always figure out. In the past 5 months I’ve lost three of my Grandparents who I adored with all my heart. You always have to look at the silver lining (my Grandma Holmes taught me that). So here I go, finding the silver lining in the loss of my loved ones.
I learned…
-My Grandma Holmes was diagnosed with cancer 18 months ago. She had lung and breast cancer, the doctors gave her 6 months to live (that was if she stayed with the kemo). She laughed in their faces and walked out of the doctor’s office. 80% of people die just by a prognosis by a doctor, someone’s mental frame of mind can be the difference between someone living and dieing. Well my grandmother decided to cure herself naturally. She never went back to the doctor after that. She knew she’d beat the cancer, and low and behold, SHE DID. The doctors scanned her body 2 days ago and found there was NO MORE LUNG CANCER. My grandmother cured herself of lung cancer purely on her determination to live. Unbelievable. She’s a Holmes.
Yesterday, she passed away from a heart attack. Honestly, she had a million different health issues, and every single one she dominated and cured herself. But the one thing she couldn’t cure herself of was LOVE. My Grandfather, her husband, had passed 5 months earlier, and honestly, she couldn’t live without him. I believe thats what killed her. Not the cancer, not her heart virus, not her tar filled lungs. Those were all factors in the end, but really, she died from the same thing that kept her going, LOVE. My Grandmother was fueled by her passion, her drive, her HEART. When the love of her life passed away, she couldn’t be without him. wow. I learned 2 things from my grandma, the first, that you can do ANYTHING you put your mind to, even curing cancer. And secondly, I learned what true love really is. I cannot even fathom meeting a man that I could be married to for 50 years, love them every day, so much so, that when they die, I wouldn’t be able to handle life without them. They were like giddy little high school sweethearts until the day he died. They lived for each other. And that gift they gave me, I will cherish forever.
I learned…
-My Grandpa Hirdler passed away two weeks ago. My grandfather had ten children, 18 grandchildren, and 11 GREAT grandchildren. Thats a HUGE family. He was a man of subtle humor that would hit you when you least expected it. Even in his final days, when he barely had enough strength to wake up, he found the energy to wink at me, whistle at me, ha, what a sense of humor 
He was a husband for 65 long years, and a beautiful human being for 85.
He laid in a bed in his living room for three days. For three days he drifted, his body slowly shutting down. Our family filled the walls of the room, every day we had at least 20-30 IMMEDIATE family in the room. We all were loving him, kissing him, holding his hand, praying for him. I have NEVER in my life seen one person so undeniably loved by so many compassionate people. As hard as it was to see him wither away, I’ve never seen such a beautiful, pure, and true display of love.
Thats the day I realized the true definition of success.
My grandfather didn’t have much money to his name, but no money in the world could have paid for the amount of love and adoration that was in that room for his final days. If I could have even a fourth of the love he had, when I pass, I would be proud to have even that much. No words can really describe how truly beautiful the display of affection was. And though you may feel you comprehend the scene I’m painting, it was really in the feeling, the emotion in the room that will change my life forever -a feeling I will never forget. He died in his home, with his family surrounding him in love, and it was beautiful.
I learned…
-My Grandpa Holmes passed away 5 months ago. He grew up in 10 different foster homes as a child, thrown around without love, until he was 17 years old and old enough to go into the army. He was a forceful, scary, younger man. But as the years went by, he never stopped evolving. My father says, “he’s the only person I know that grew better with age.” And its true. He became more and more loving, more expressive, more thankful for life, while most become bitter, grumpy, and old. He was my cookie monster, I never met the rigid, abusive man he used to be, only the loving, silly, strong man he was. From the day I walked in his door to the day I would leave him, he would tease me, jibber jabbered at me, and most of all, he loved me unconditionally. He taught me a love that was so pure, so strong, he empowered me.
My Grandfather taught me to age with grace, keep evolving, keep loving, and don’t let age tell you any different. As we grow old, we think we can’t do things. My grandfather was still working security jobs at age 70. You would have guessed he was 60. He had a strong heart, and a force of will that matched my Grandmother’s. My grandfather gave me the precious gift of eternal youth. That’s what he taught me. He never grew old. He was still a high school sweetheart with his wife of 50 years, he was still strong enough to break up fights and demand control over brutality, he gave me that gift by living it every day. A lesson we can all learn.
I learned…
There’s so many interpretations to the twists and turns of life’s rigid roads, and you can either look at it as a pain in your back, or an adventure. These last months have been a lesson in life, and I will live on, proud to be a descendant of these beautiful, compassionate, loving people.
Love with all your heart. I do. I will. I am.
Come see it!!!
BUT, we are having a reunion show at Genghis Cohen June 9th (details 
Hey hey 
