OT: The passing of Grandmother Goose

[Guest guest]

She was a retired librarian

when I met her; she had moved from her Wisconsin home to my small town

to be near her grandchildren after Mr. Grandmother Goose had departed

from their lifetime together. She was an avid member of the Friends of

the Library, and she read to children. The community reading program

expanded and was vibrant with her contribution. She had many assistant

characters in her duties; she actually dressed for the reading in many

different costumes. It was not infrequent to see her about town with a

clutch of rapt preschoolers in her wake as she went about her busy

schedule. My favorite costume was the Mother Goose with an extra arm

arranged carefully to hold the stuffed goose on her hip, so she could

use her two arms to hold what she was reading that day.

She had incredible energy and enjoyed travel widely around the world.

She had chiropractic care most of her life which she insisted

contributed immeasurably to her good spirits. I cared for her in a

variety of minor injuries. Once she hurt her shoulder so bad surgery

was required. And she began suffering the type of early symptoms that

are found all too often in her age group.

The day came when she reported Bad News...imaging and lab reports

confirmed the hazy spot on her liver was more than just that. She was

advised to get her affairs in order and given the time line of "a few

months maybe" by her oncologist.

She delved into the kind of research of which only a librarian can

conceive. She discussed her options at length and asked my opinion.

She consulted with old medical friends of hers from the highest

research facilities both private and federal. She developed a course

of care which extended her survival another 24 months, and she was

vigorous enough to travel to India and England in her last year, as

well as attend various celebrations with grandchildren and

great-grandchildren. She would cheerfully give me lists of books she

promised my own grandchildren would cherish. They did.

Her last social visit was marked by that kind of moment when words

aren't adequate. She lingered a bit and offered a few special

observations which cheered me considerably, yet there was a sad

undertone. I thanked her for the decades and sharing her wisdom with

so many....I hugged her and wished her well on the next phase of her

journey to the great Goose Flock in the Sky. She chortled.

J. Pedersen DC