* These are pictures of what I grew seeing. I would look out my grandparent's house and I would see these views.
I feel that going thru the hardships with my family, we are the strongest and closest. After writing about my dear uncle, talking with my mom and cousins, all my feelings go back to my Grandma. To this day I cry wanting and missing her. She was a strong woman, just like the Ruth in the Bible.
Grandma was was born on August 23, 1928 in Cleveland, OH. In 1944 she married my grandpa, Allan McKnight and moved to Colorado where she was a ski instructor at Silver Creek. She taught all of us grandchildren how to ski. They lived in Silver Creek, CO close to a well known town of Winter Park, CO. My grandma was everything to me. She was my best friend. I see now that the times I had with her I took advantage of. If only I could go back and embracer her and tell her how much she means to me. I would.
November 18, 1999. My grandparents were on their way down to Denver for my grandpa's doctor appointment. Grandpa isn't allowed to drive so Grandma has to take over the task of driving to the appointments. A beautiful white blanket of snow covered the ground. Now unlike Amarillo, 3 to 8 feet of snow is not uncommon. It wasn't but 6 minutes into their trip they came upon Red Dirt Hill. Red Dirt Hill isn't a truly dangerous stretch of road, but if you don't know how to drive in the conditions of the weather, then it can become a driver's worst enemy. Underneath the beautiful blanket of snow was a layer of pure ice. As they came to the top of Red Dirt Hill an oncoming truck full of lightening rods was out of control. He swirved from one side of the road to the other...eventually striking my grandparents van...
Amarillo: I had a basketball game that day. I was in art class when the school secretary came and asked me to come to her office. I was laughing and kidding around the entire way there. Not knowing what was ahead. I turn the corner into her office and see my sister sitting there...it was then I knew something had happened. Not but 2 mintues later my mom comes rushing into the office with a face full of tears. She was trying to hold evertying back when she told us about the accident. The three of us just stood there and embraced eachother. The school administer came a said a prayer over us. Praying for a safe trip and for my grandparents. We got into our van and I couldn't hold back...I burst into uncontrollable tears. The only thing running thru my head was Grandma is healthy, she'll make it; however, Grandpa has survived 5 heart attacks, strokes, and just not healthy. He was the one I was worried about. We drove 8 hours making 1 stop in Colorado Springs to eat. The whole ride of was full silence except for the 2 or 3 phone calls that would interrupt the silence...
Colorado: Many witnessed the accident. Fire, police, and abulance were on the scene. They pulled my grandpa out first because my grandma was stuck. They ended up using the jaws of life to get grandma out of the van. She was bleeding internally and was not in stable condition. They ended up airlifting her to the Denver hospital...
With 8 hours down and 1 stop, we finally made it to the hospital. My aunt, unlce, and cousins had already been there. When we got there, grandma had gone into surgery and grandpa was already in a room. Grandpa was doing okay, he had broken ribs, cuts and bruises, and the soarness that comes iwth any wreck; however, it wasn't the same for Grandma. I remember we were only allowed 2 at a time once she got of surgery. It was just like the movies...my dad and I walked slowly to the double doors that lead into the ICU. The ICU had rooms with glass doors so you could see the patients. I remember looking up seeing my grandma's name on her tag outside the door. I hestitated, not know what to expect. My dad coaxed me in and I couldn't believe that was my grandma laying on that bed. Her cheast was so bloated from the bleeding, I couldn't see her face. I couldn't see her face. All I could see was her chest going up and down by the breathing machine. We didn't stay long, I felt like I was going to pass out. Once my dad and I walked out of the ICU unit, it was decided that us kids would go to my aunt's house. So me, my sister, and two cousins went home. I remember my older cousin, Brent, say to the parents, "Please call when you know something". I don't remember much after that. I don't remember what happened when we got to the house, I think we all were exhausted we all just went to bed.
November 19, 1999: I woke up, not remembering much...did the phone ring? Is she okay? I jumped out of bed, turned into the hallway and saw my cousin and his girlfriend sitting down at the kitchen table read the newspaper. I walked up to Brent and asked, "Is she okay?". He shook his head, "No, you need to go downstairs and see your mom". I knew it. She didn't make it. I didn't run, I didn't hurry to go downstairs to where my parents were sleeping. I got downstairs and noticed my Uncle from St. Louis (uncle Gordon) and my cousin from North Carolina (uncle G's daughter) were sleeping on the hideaway couch. I thought to myself, "When did they get in?" "I didn't know they were coming...of course they would stupid". I finally made it to my parents room. I opened the door quietly thinking they were still sleeping. They weren't. My dad was just holding my mom as she fell into his arms in grave pain. All I knew to do was run to her and hold her.
Family and friends started coming in. The next couple days were full of preparing a memorial service for her. About 4 days later we all went to grandma and grandpa's house in the mountains. Passing the wreck and still seeing car parts was the hardest to see. We had a memorial service on the deck at the house. It was cold but there were so many people there the warmth and love made me put the coldness aside. During the last prayer, a flock of geese flew over head. Almost like a sign that she was okay.
My cousins put a cross on the side of the road where the accident happened. Every time we go up there we are reminded of the pain she went thru but then we remember that she's in a much better place and we will see her soon.
(This post was very hard for me to write. My grandma meant the world to me. I'm sorry if some of this doesn't make sense. When I regain composure, I will go back and fix things that are mumbo jumbo.)
This was very sad to read, but I'm glad you blogged about it, Lauren. I didn't know about all these details since I was living in Orlando at the time.
ReplyDeleteI just remember getting a phone call at work, and I was just really stressed out at work (TV news, WESH in Orlando). It was the second or third call from my Dad (Uncle Gordon) that left me in a state of shock. I remember going to the News Director and he took one look at me, and excused himself and walked me back to his office, his arm on my shoulder.
I remember flying out for the memorial and seeing everyone. I remember saying a few things I wrote about on the plane. I remember everyone sad, worried about Grandpa, who meant the world to me.
I remember freezing my butt off and eventually all of us having fun, like you, Jordan and I having contests of who could stand in the cold while it was snowing and we were in the heated pool at Silver Creek. And I also remember the big Thanksgiving dinner we had (on Wed.), and how much that meant to me, and I think to Grandpa.
It was also nice that I spent a couple of weeks with Grandpa in 2000, and just getting closer to him.
I miss Grandma and Grandpa terribly, but I'm so happy they both led such great lives and left a wonderful legacy and family.