Raised in the midst of war You stubborn, tenacious, little girl You saved your friends and lost your family You rode on the top of trains to make room for the sick and the elderly
You met an American Soldier Who had a big mustache and a long face You didn't know English, but you fell in love with him
The odds were against you but still you moved across the ocean To a place that didn't understand you or the way you spoke, or the way you looked.
You had a little girl who died and your racist Mother-in-law crudely said, "Wake up, your baby is dead."
You had four more daughters Your husband was always away And yet you had time to make Hot breakfast every morning sew 17 dresses in one summer and never complain
Your daughters grew up and gave you 8 grandchildren we were your light and you made us laugh and taught us how to be strong in the face of adversity
For 7 years you fought this illness and in all those 7 years of over 60 blood transfusions and practically living from hospital to hospital you were patient and you never once lost your spirit.
Even in our last day together You held my hand with so much strength though your body was weak and failing you In your hand I felt all the love you had for me All the love you had for our family and I know you did everything for us
I miss the way you swear your tenacious strength your incredible tenderness holding your hand feeling comfort in your quiet presence
Even though you're gone and I will never see you again, I feel you. I feel you in my heart I feel you in my hands, I feel you in my soul. I feel you every time I stand up to some one and tell them No.
You always said, "I'm a rich woman" because you had us. You told me, "If I asked for anything more, I would be greedy." The reality is, we were all rich because we had you. I am so grateful for you. I miss you. I love you.
My Grandmother, who immigrated to America from South Korea in the 50s, passed away on March 1st, 2014. She was the strongest, feistiest person I knew. I wanted to capture her spirit.