A tribute to my grandmother: "Keep me posted"

October 27, 2021 - Blaine Beyer

The following is the tribute I gave for my grandmother at her funeral on October 27th, 2021. She passed on Friday, October 22nd from her battle with COVID-19. I loved her dearly and I will miss her. Her life had an incredible amount of wisdom.

Good morning, my name is Blaine Beyer. I am Billie's very first grandchild.

Earlier this year, we lost my grandfather. I stood in this exact spot just four months ago. I wouldn't believe you if you told me I'd be standing here again today.

In June, I spoke about my grandfather's propensity to be a life-long educator. I truly believe the same to be true about my grandmother. However, our Ome was primarily a life-long learner.

She wanted to know everything. She read books about the art of everyday life. She read books about politics. She read novels, poetry, prose. As a result of her constant traveling, she bought books about the history of every culture, books on how to fix up the house, cookbooks (even though we know she didn't use those). Wabi sabi, Mother Theresa, Feng shui, John Grisham, Keep it Simple Stupid books (for the younger kids: that was before Google). She couldn't go to a new town without stopping by the gas station or the visitor center to pick up every single pamphlet she could carry. She read everything.

Ome and I would often trade reading suggestions. Last year, I called her to tell her about a book I was reading for one of my ministry classes. It's called The Sabbath, by Abraham Joshua Heschel. The early chapters of the book contrast Roman culture, which focuses on building up space, with the Jewish tradition of filling and marking time.

Ome knew how to mark time.

Whether it was traipsing across the state to catch her grandchildren's activities and events, walking the Great Wall of China, losing all of her toenails while hiking the entirety of the Grand Canyon, changing the rules to every card and domino game, or resting with a good book while drinking unsweetened sun tea, she intentionally filled each of her days.

One of the reading recommendations Ome always made for me was the writing from the late reporter Charles Krauthammer… who also happened to be a correspondent on her favorite tv network, FOX News.

Her recommendations never came because she wanted to influence me with his politics. It wasn't his opinions on elections or foreign policy that ultimately intrigued her. It wasn't even the fact that he was a Pulitzer Prize winning writer. It was his personal story.

Charles Krauthammer was quadriplegic, paralyzed from the neck down after a freak diving accident in med school. Ome was always so fascinated by the notion that despite his physical limitations, he was the most eloquent writer and communicator. She implored, "you have to read his work!"

That's what was incredible about Ome. She never saw people's disabilities or differences as a hinderance. She saw them as an opportunity and a gift.

If I've learned anything about my Ome, it's that she valued each person's unique qualities. And she celebrated them. She had a way of making you feel incredibly special and whole.

Ome, herself, was different. She was the first person that showed me that gender roles didn't mean ANYTHING. I remember several holidays and birthdays Ome received tools and appliances as gifts. I remember her being so proud when she purchased her electric mower.

She also proved that she could do anything a man could do and do it better. Education. Career. Advocacy. Raising a family. You name it, she could do it. And she did it well.

She encouraged each person in her life to become the best version of themselves. It didn't matter how many failed attempts, it didn't matter how many mistakes, it didn't matter how much support you needed.

Ome was always there.

There were times when I knew she was the only person that would answer the phone.

And she will continue to be there.

She will be that ever constant voice in the back of our heads saying, "what's next? keep going."

She always knew how to bring people together, especially her family. I fully believe she will continue to do that, even after passing away from this world.

So, how do we carry on this legacy?

Ome had this old adage that used to drive my mother crazy. She would say it before she hung up the phone, before you left town, or until the next time she saw you. Do you remember what she'd say?

"Keep me posted."

We have to keep each other posted about our lives. Our heartaches. Our victories. Our failures. Our dreams.

That's the only way we can mark time and care for each other as well as Ome did.

I am blessed by her life and I will be blessed to carry on her legacy of inspiring those around me to feel special and whole.

How it goes? I'll keep you posted.