This morning my grandmother, Kathleen Margaret McGrath, passed away in San Antonio. My joy is in knowing that today, for the first time in many years, she is back to being herself. All the limitations of this earth, from the ravages of Alzheimer's to the death of my grandfather a few months ago, can no longer bind her. Today she joins Bop and she is herself again. I can only imagine the grief that they are giving each other after having been separated for so long.

My grandmother was quite a woman. I remember clashing with her as a pre-teen over whether or not I was going to wear chapstick one day or not. She felt adamant that I was not, and I felt entitled to. As usual, she won. She was also the grandmother that took me around the world and exposed me to so many wonderful people and places. She was so much fun to travel with. When in San Antonio, we always went to the zoo, museums or the mall together.

In many ways, we lost my grandmother a few years ago to Alzheimer's. It turned her into a completely different person. Gone was the strong, fiesty, loving woman I had known all my life.

I know that this will be especially difficult for my mother and my uncle. It was only 16 months ago that we put Drando in a Alzheimer's care facility. Less than a year ago my grandfather fell, which started his decline. And now, in less than 6 months, both of them are gone.