In Yiddush, the language spoken by generations of Jews, of which I am proud to say I am, the word for grandmother is “Bubie” or “Bubbie” (phonetically, “Boo – Bee” or “Bubb – ee”).  My children call my mom “Bubie”.   My Father refers to my mother as nothing else now that they have grandchildren.  For the word means something more…I called my father’s mother, “Bubie”.   Geraldine King Rochkind, of blessed memory, died 20 years ago this weekend.  She is my Bubie.  The feelings of remorse and regret, the ones that try to swallow away, fill my throat.  I keep trying to swallow them down and away…it doesn’t work.  My father says that I was the last person that she spoke to before she died.  20 years  – – she has missed much.  We have missed her more.

Rest in peace, Bubie . . . you’d be proud to see how well your little family has done.