Portrait of Grandma

This is a drawing of my late grandmother, Margarita Rodriguez, which I did on Christmas evening, just three days before her passing on the 28th of December. I traced over pencil with a Sharpie fine-point marker.

Grandma was reaching that tragic cul de sac from the cancer she had (her last conscious moment was just a week before her death), and was just transferred to the hospice in the hospital from the Intensive Care section on Christmas Eve. That time, while we were settled at the hospice, I came down with a devastating intestinal flu (and had diarrhea, and for the first time in 18 years, I threw up), which kept me down for Christmas. I was barely able to get up from bed, except when I struggled to stay upright when I got my Christmas presents from friends & relatives who came to visit. I settled down watching THE INCREDIBLES and CARS on the ABC Family Channel, so while everyone else went to see Grandma at the hospice. my mom and sister suggested that I do a drawing of Grandma to remember her, the same way Big Bird drew a picture of the late Mr. Hooper. From my memories.

I struggled to do this one, due to my intestinal flu, but considering that, I did the best I could, and I'm proud of it.

When I last talked to Grandma (when she was last conscious), I told her, "I love you," and she said, in English, "I love you, too." It was like having a chance to say goodbye to her.

I will miss Grandma. She will rest peacefully, and I'll remember her always.