For Grandma

My maternal grandmother, Ida Fuchs, passed away very early this morning, in the midst of Rosh Hashanah. She was 96 years old and had been in failing health for about 6 months, but it was still a shock, of course.

She was a great lady -- salutatorian (albeit rightful valedictorian) of her high-school class, on the basketball team (this was in the 1920s, mind you), a voracious reader, and an expert knitter and seamstress. She made a lot of my clothes when I was a little girl, and knitted lots of gorgeous sweaters for me over the years. She helped me learn to knit, too, although I never matched her prodigious skill or output.

She was married to my grandfather, Michael (aka Mickey), for an improbable 72 years and missed him every day since his death in 2001. He would have turned 100 last month.

So I am sad today, but also grateful to have had her in my life this long.