Sorting through the assortment of bills, junk-mail, and the usual array of advertisements she came across an envelope of the palest pink hue. In the top left hand corner she strained to make out the return address. Where were her glasses when she needed them?

Katherine reached for the letter opener lying atop the cherry wood desk, one of her most prized possessions. It had been a wedding gift from her grandmother. When she had announced she was going to marry and halt her aspiring career in journalism, Grandma B. had dipped into her lives savings to purchase this elegant piece of furniture for her favorite granddaughter. She wasn’t any too pleased about her running off with some Navy man who of all things was first and foremost a farmer.

Grandma B. was a formidable presence. She weighed in at 175 lbs., stood 5’10” in her more often than not, bare feet, that incidentally were a size 11. Massive arms and legs supported her large frame. Her eyes were a penetrating blue that saw right through to one’s core. No one ever put anything by, Grandma. That day of the fateful announcement, the engagement, Clara flashed her steely stare at her granddaughter. Words weren’t necessary to convey her thoughts and feelings, but they tumbled out of quivering top lip, as she attempted to hold back a deluge of tears. “You must promise me, that when you are settled in your new home, you will get back to the business of being you. I was young once, you know. I understand all about being in love, but your life and your dreams MUST continue.” She almost spat out the next sentence. “You will not let this “farmer” hold you back. I will have none of it, you understand?”

That was two months ago and she still wasn’t settled. Being in love tended to take up most of her time these days. The last thing she’d written had been her wedding vows. She hadn’t even taken the time to drop a line home to friends or family. Where were her blasted glasses? Katherine gave up the quest and tore vehemently into the pale pink envelope. She removed a single piece of rose colored stationary from it’s package. As she did so, a 2x2 card fell to the ground. Katie bent down to pick it up. Instantly she recognized what it was she now held in her hand. On the front of the card was a picture of the Blessed Virgin. Shades of gold adorned the crown of her head in the form of a glistening halo.

A bit bewildered, she turned the card over. It read: Clara L. Bruhn, born ……died……

This is my first attempt at a short story. It is still in progress. It is also the way I found out that my grandmother had passed away. Something that still haunts me to this day.