I am now into the second week of clinical rotations, namely my Obstetrics and Gynecology rotation. I spent last week on the labor and delivery floor, and it was pretty crazy! I saw babies being born, the very beginning of life, I saw the happiest families, the craziest Dads, the coolest Moms, the tragedy of losing a child. Every day in the hospital, you see little miracles and big tragedies. That is what life is. That is where the beginning of all of it is.
On Sunday morning, my dear grandmother Babi left this world forever. She hasn't been herself for many years, and what had finally happened was the best for her, to end her suffering in this world. She had a long life, and a difficult one. She lived in a time and a place where women were not allowed many opportunities in life, and I think that had made her bitter in her old age. But she was also a beautiful and loving person, who raised her three children to be the best people they can be. I have many many fond memories with her. There is one in particular I like to remember. Who knows if it ever even happened...
I was a child of around 10 maybe, and it was Christmas eve and we were celebrating at our house. She always came to our house for Christmas. In Hungary we say that babu Jesus comes that night to decorate Christmas trees and brings the presents (I don't know if there are other countries where Jesus takes over for Santa, but at least in Hungary that's the case, silly, I know, but that's just how it is). In order for me to not see that my parents were actually the ones decorating the tree and putting gifts underneath, Babi took me for a walk around the neighborhood while the preparations were underway. I have this very vivid memory of walking with her hand in hand in the cold and snow, her telling me about baby Jesus. Memories is all we have left.
I do not believe in any sort of afterlife. But sometimes I think about her being in some better place than this world was for her over the past few years. I have an old photograph from 1942 from her and my Dedi's wedding. She is wearing a gorgeous white dress and is stunning in it and he is so handsome in his military uniform. I like to imagine them together again, wearing those beautiful clothes, arm in arm, happy again.
