My grandma passed away a little over a week ago. I wasn’t there.. I was here in NOLA working. I had said my last goodbyes before every job I left for before, just in case. I never thought it was a waste of time. But I also never thought it was going to truly be the last good bye. My grandma raised her younger siblings on a farm, at the age of 12. Just as she was about to start college she was put into Japanese internment camps. She came away with nothing and started a family with my geechan in California. She worked hard as an RN to provide for her family. She was a caretaker of her family. But I wouldn’t say she was gentle about it. Lol! I mostly have memories of her scolding me. But I look back now and I think she just wanted me to be and do better. (She also probably would have benefitted from some SSRIs). She convinced my mom to send me to vocal lessons, that I had something special. I played Bloody Mary in high school and I channeled that woman for sure! She was 99. She lived a full life. A hard life. A life that paved the way to where I stand today. Thank you Grammy for everything. Even yelling at me when I spilled too many rice kernels while washing it. Big thanks to my friends and family for helping me and my family have a safe place to grieve and process.