Remembering GG on 1/28/2021
Kathleen Rae (Kroetch) Pinna reminded me today that you died on this day when I was six years old. Now age 40, I still remember very well the car ride home from the YWCA when mom told me that you had died. I believe mom started with "I have something to tell/share with you..." and I interrupted her and said "GG died".
That was my first experience with death. I seem to recall being okay with it, which could be viewed as unusual as we had such a wonderful relationship. The few strongest memories are likely not the two you would chose for me to remember. One is the time you spilled coffee on my head. Okay, ok, it was hot water from the stove but you were making it for coffee. Two is when I fell behind during one of our usual walks around the neighborhood. It was unusual that I was slow, and you realized I had reason since my shoes were on backwards :c)
Note from Kathleen Pinna: The car ride home was from Kindergarten at St. Francis Cabrini. Otherwise, you're right - you weren't upset when you realized GG was dead. But you were very close to her - from the time you were an infant, she would babysit you when I was working odd hours at the emergency room. It's funny that you remember the walk - you were perhaps 14 months old.