The Greene Beat

A guest post by my daughter, Brooklyn Franklin

There are many ways to show love other than just saying the three words “I love you”. Many couples hold hands or kiss each other to show their love. Friends may help their friend through a tough time or calm them when they’re upset to show their love. Family members may hug you and tell you how much they care about you, or how much someone else cared about you to show their love. Through this past week or so, I’ve seen so many expressions of love that I know more now than I ever did before.

When my Granny fell last Saturday, I remember showing my love to the twins and hugging them and telling them everything was going to be okay while we sat out on the front porch. I was scared, of course, but I loved the twins enough to show them how strong I could be and to help them through the night. Wrigley wasn’t out there but he kept his cool and was helping inside, moving things around and helping the twins slip silently in and out of the house to use the restroom so that everyone else stayed calm.
I remember showing my love as flashing trucks pulled up and people came in to help get Granny out of the house and to the hospital. I kept my cool as I silently gathered clothes for Granny to wear and placed my red rubber band bracelet I had made her a while back on top of the folded pants. I know Aunt Peggy showed a lot of love by staying at the house with us kids for around 3 hours so that Mom could be there for Granny.
I also remember Tuesday. Tuesday after school, I remember Dad getting us home and telling us that Granny wasn’t doing well and they were to take her off of oxygen later in the night. I remember us all hugging, Brynley was in my arms and Tyler was in Wrigley’s as Dad talked to Mom on the phone. We all piled in the van and us kids stayed at Grandma Franklin’s until around 8:35-8:40, Dad called me and told me Granny had passed away. I was in tears, I held Brynley and I told Tyler it was going to be okay. Kylie showed her love and gave us all hugs, telling us a story and that she was so sorry. Grandma Franklin showed her love as she held Brynley and explained the wonders of heaven and that Granny was now there.

School the next day was rough, I remember people giving me hugs and others saying they were sorry and that it was going to be okay. I remember after school when I began playing on the piano in the back room about five minutes before practice. I couldn’t even get past the first verse of “You Are My Sunshine” before I broke down. I cried over the sound of practice starting and Ms. Williams asking where I was to say my line to open up Act 2 but I couldn’t go out there. I remember Abby showing her love and texting me that it was okay and to just take time to calm down, watch some YouTube, and get out there when I could.

Thursday we were signed out of school early and I remember Papaw Todd showing his love by hugging me and telling me how much Granny loved me and that she donated her eyes with the knowledge that I am half-blind. I cried and eventually fell asleep on the couch.

Friday was a rough day for all of us. So many “I’m sorry’s” and so many “I love you’s” that it hurt my heart yet let me know how much love was around me. The day came to an end with me sitting in the lounge before walking in to see Granny. The room was empty except for Granny and I. I walked up the her but I eventually moved away to the first row of chairs because I was too afraid to face her. I remember Brynley breaking her rule of not being allowed in there anymore and showing her love by sitting next to me and singing “You Are My Sunshine” with me, the song Granny always sang when I was younger.

Saturday was even rougher. I kept it together through the bulk of the service and looked around at everyone else, Brynley clinging to Dad’s arm, Papaw Todd holding Uncle Logan’s hand, and Mom hugging to Papaw Larry as the last songs played. The service came to a close as we all picked out our flowers and Papaw Larry said his goodbyes. I remember Ashley and Mom reassuring Papaw that it wasn’t “goodbye” it was just “see you later”.

The church buzzed as everyone lined up to get food and the sadness seemed to still be there, but the love masked it and held us all together.

This past week or so has been rough on everyone but I now know the ways people show love better than I did before and something tells me Granny wanted me to notice these things. I promise to use this knowledge to spread love as we all continue mourning and as other hardships emerge. Thank you so much, Granny.