in memory of

With a huge Samsonite suitcase in tow, Nathan plowed his way into his grandmother's small apartment and announced, "Grandma, I'm here!" with all the fanfare of a 70's era superhero.

"Ah, you've come!" answered Grandma excitedly. All smiles, she motioned her grandson to the couch while rushing her way into the kitchen to prepare refreshments. Nathan got up to help but, after a moment, sat back down. While she was in her final stage of cancer, her family was her pride and joy and providing for them was her favorite thing to do. So he sat. A few moments later, she reappeared from the kitchen and placed a plate full of sliced apples and peaches on a sidetable next to Nathan. Nathan started digging in and they spoke in between forkfuls of fruit.

"Did you fly in from San Francisco?"

"Yes, Grandma."

"The flight was OK?"

"Yes, Grandma."

"Did you meet a girl yet?"

Nathan took a half-second longer to respond.

"No one yet, Grandma. I'm not that lucky, I guess."

She smiled and nodded and sat back to think of what to say next. Nathan knew what she was thinking: her grandson was either too picky or too busy with work to find a nice girl. Nathan needed to get his priorities straight!

She pressed on, "Well, there's plenty of nice girls out there. You should make opportunities to go meet them."

"Grandma!" Nathan responded, "I promise you'll be the first one I tell when I meet a girl! I'll call you and everything."

She laughed with joy. "Be sure to bring her here, OK?"

Nathan nodded. He went over to his suitcase and began emptying its contents. He laid out his clothes, set aside his toiletries, and set up his laptop in the corner. Grandma expressed surprise when he rolled out a new North Face sleeping bag.

"You're sleeping over, Nathan?"

"Yes, Grandma! I plan on being here all week!"

"Well, what did you bring that for?" asked Grandma, pointing to his sleeping bag. "Come here," she said, and Nathan followed his grandmother into her bedroom.

Lying against the wall was a new, twin-sized mattress from IKEA. Nathan later found out that his brother had hauled it in some weeks prior to sleep on. But, not knowing this, Nathan stood there, staring stupidly at the bed. "This would be more comfortable than your sleeping bag, right?"

Nathan sighed. He began to roll his sleeping bag back up while his grandmother took a seat on the couch. 

"How are you feeling, Grandma?" Nathan asked, hoping for a positive response.

Grandma shook her head weakly. "It's not good, Nathan. But, what can we do?" A lump formed in Nathan's throat, as he struggled for an answer. 

After a few moments, Nathan put away his sleeping bag and plopped down next to his Grandma. "Grandma, now that I'm here, I realize there is too much to do." Grandma smiled sweetly, as if to say Now we're talking! "Grandma, who's going to help you clean? What are we going to do for dinner? Mom is going to be upset if she comes in here and we're both just sitting around, doing nothing. Let's go to the market - there's no time to waste!"

Nathan and Grandma got ready and left for the market. They soon returned to prepare themselves a nice dinner. There was always so much to do, and so little time for it, and all Nathan and his Grandma could do is make the most of their short time together. Still, the question lingered in his head, long after he left his Grandma at his doorstep, long after he promised her he'd return soon. A question that Nathan would revisit a few weeks later, on a lonely flight from JFK to Burbank. 

What can we do?

And after much thought, he realized that he already knew the answer and was comforted to know that his grandma and he solved the question together. 

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Nathan, Sister and Grandma, circa 1988.