Elizabeth Joyce Brennan watched sadly at the grave of her last living grandparent as he slowly entered into the ground. She sat tightly holding her mother Willa’s hand. She looked over sadly as Willa tried to remain stoic as tears streamed down her face.
Liz would fade in and out between listening to her uncle Glenn talk about the numerous fishing trips up in Bishop, hunting Elk in Colorado and sitting next to Kurt Russell on a fishing trip back in 1991...and her own fond memories of Gramps teaching her to ride a bicycle. Liz loved her Gramps and knew it would be a while before she could mentally surpass the grief.
“Elizabeth?”….
Uncle Glenn looked over at Liz awaiting a response. “Elizabeth?” Liz snapped her head in her uncle’s direction dazed, “Huh?”, she responded. She quickly realizes it’s her moment to get up and sing in front of all who showed up to pay tribute to her grandfather Vernon.
She stood facing everyone; a comfortable grin across her face. “When I was eight, Gramps took me aside and began singing to me”, “You’re just too good to be true, I can’t take my eyes off of you”, she sang softly remembering one of her favorite memories of Vernon. “He told me it was the song that was playing on the jukebox at the diner in Alabama where he first spotted my Granny Lucy where she was working as a waitress. He said, she had the most beautiful blue eyes he’d ever seen. He knew right then and there that he was going to marry her”, she shared.
“My grandmother passed when I was four years old. My memories of her are vague, but I remember her adoration of my grandfather, my mother and me. She was a beautiful and gracious woman who my grandfather never truly got over. While none of us could see it, I know that waking up alone without the love of his life by his side was tasking. But I personally feel that they are together again…they are here with all of us, arm in arm. So it’s for them that I want to sing this.”
With that, her close friend Tyler sat in a chair near Liz and began strumming a beautiful guitar piece of the Four Seasons classic. Soon Liz joined in with the iconic opening,
“You’re just too good to be true”…•••
The conclusion of the touching service found Liz close-knit, arm-in-arm with Willa. “I’m so proud of you Honey. You didn’t just make me proud today, but I know your grandparents are prouder than they’ve ever been,” Willa bragged pulling her only child close to her. “I’ll be fine Mom,” Liz assured. “Go ahead and catch a right with Auntie Gladys and I’ll call you tonight when Leese and I get home.”
Liz made her way to her partner since high school Lisa who greeted her with a strong embrace accompanied by a soft kiss on the cheek. “You okay Sweetie,” she asked comforting the love of her life. Liz gazed over into her eyes, “I think so.”
They took a moment to comfort one another as attendees walked by offering both their condolences. They began walking arm-in-arm to Lisa’s car when a soft voice of an elderly woman whispered behind them, “Elizabeth?”
Liz looked back to see a stunning woman who appeared to be much older than she looked. “Do you remember me Sweetheart?” the strange woman asked. Liz thought for a second, “I would like to think I’d remember a woman as beautiful as you,” she complimented.
“Oh, Elizabeth…I used to give you a bath in the sink of the house Lucille and Vernon lived in out in Norco.” Liz squinted slightly trying to remember this woman. While she did seem familiar, Liz couldn’t quite place her. “I’m sorry I cannot remember, but I’m guessing you’re a friend of my grandparents?”
“Yes…the BEST of friends,” she fondly boasted. “I first met Vernon and Lucille back in 1954 in Knoxville Tennessee.” Liz and Lisa smiled and Liz thanked her, “Well, we all appreciate you coming out all this way to pay your respects, Mrs?”
“Oh, I’m Lois…and I have actually been living out in Newport Beach for the last 43 years.” Liz’s eyes bugged out as she smiled, “How lucky. I love the beach.”
“It doesn’t shock me Elizabeth, your Grandma Lucy loved it too. She spent so much time out with us in Newport. When she got really sick, she came and stayed with me so she could spend her final days staring out at the ocean,” Lois comforted.
“Well, thank you for that Lois. I always regretted not knowing her better” Liz said in a soft, regretful tone. “I’ve heard so many stories about her…I just always felt kind of robbed that I never truly got to know her.”
Lois gently stroked the ends of Liz’s full strawberry-blonde locks, “The moment you entered this Earth, you were the light of her life. She would brag about how Lizzy took her first steps, and Lizzy and I sang You Are My Sunshine today, and Lizzy is gonna be taller than both her mama and grandma!”
Liz gleamed, “Did she really?”
“Oh
Gawd yes! She adored you. She would always say, Lizzy is going to be the strong and intelligent woman that we always aspired to,” Lois recollected. She knew that whatever path you journey takes you, it would be a successful path, and little girls from everywhere would look up to you.”
Liz and Lisa looked at each other as both were taken back. “I don’t know what to say Lois. I thank you so much for sharing all of this. Not a day goes by where I don’t try and talk to her. She was a beautiful woman and I’d be happy just to be half the woman she was.”
“Well listen you two, I don’t want to take any more of your time. I know you have to go be with your family right now. But Elizabeth, if you can put aside a few hours one day, I have something your Granny Lucy wanted me to give to you if I out-lived your grandfather.”
“Ummm, we’re actually free the rest of the day if you’re good with it,” Liz offered. “Sure, if you two want to follow me to Newport Beach, we can head out now if you two like.”
All three women made their way to the parking lot as Liz and Lisa followed Lois to the freeway.