I never met Ada Mae, my maternal grandmother. She did not live to see grandchildren. As it was, I only knew beautiful glimpses of who my mother was as she had a major mental illness. I do know that my mother adored Ada Mae and to hear her speak, there wasn’t a more perfect human. I have questions for Ada Mae. Just what happened to your heart when you saw for the first time a mental break? Just what was Mother like before disease captured her mind? Somehow, I know there would have been a story about a garden at the Old Home Place. My Mom was a young college graduate when Ada Mae passed away. Was it a tragic trigger, launching episodes of mental collapse? Deep in thought, tears brimming and I shudder. I blink and open my eyes to the God-given gift of grandchildren. Five at this writing, they are so very grand. A vision for Grande Garden III has arrived, and has to grow.

This garden needed construction. One thing I have learned from the widow walk is how to take care of things myself. Check out my gift to myself on Father’s day.

I remember a trip to see Mom. She was getting weaker and was recovering from a beat-you-up fall. She greeted me with a smile that encompassed her entire face, bruises and all. I quickly perceive it is not my arrival that she is grinning about. As Mom was recovering her wounds, she dreamed about Ada Mae. God granted her the image of Ada Mae sitting on the side of her bed, smoothing out the covers, soothing the hurts. What followed was 3 1/2 years of the Final Fragmentation, the death of my Mother’s mind. Ada Mae brought comfort to her before it began, and to me too.

My beautiful sister and our children with all our sorrows took care of Mom, 24 / 7 for three and a half years. The little family recovers and heals, peace comes. This garden is dedicated to Ada Mae, smoothing out all the rough places and soothing the hurts. It is Grande.

Some real life facts:

• The camellia “tree” behind the barn immediately dies.

• My grandchildren destroyed this garden. And again. Sorry, no pictures of this! Amazing how it repairs, wow!
• We almost never get the dirt out of Frannie’s fingernails.
• We still have not found the dinosaurs.