Pepe

Pepe
Originally uploaded by nandu.

My grandmother was born Prema Vaidya, but when she married my grandfather, he changed her first name to Jyotsna. No one seemed to notice, though, as everyone continued to call her "Prema" or, affectionately, "Prematai" (the suffix -tai ordinarily used to refer to an older sister). Her first grandchild, my cousin, had a little trouble with "Prematai", and ended up saying "Pepe". As the second grandchild, I adored and emulated my cousin, so I also started saying "Pepe". This time, the new name stuck.

For most of my life, I've had fleeting contact with Pepe, since she mostly lived in India, while I was in the States. She helped my parents care for me and my sister while they were enduring their residencies (I was 4 at the time, and, from what I recall, quite a handful for her at times).

My family visited India a couple of times when I was a child. I remember the smell of Pepe's kitchen as she cooked fish. On one of her visits to the States--I must have been around 12--she humored me by cleaning and cooking the fish I caught, most of which were only slightly too big to be used as bait.

In 1993 Pepe had a stroke, and needed significant assistance. The best thing for her was to bring her to the States, which finally happened in 1999. Of course, that was good for me, too, since I got to see her more frequently after that, and it was a treat every time. The stroke left her unable to speak, but you'd be amazed at how well a person can communicate through gestures and simple vocalizations. She grew accustomed to being cared for around the clock, and was very comfortable expressing her needs: jigsaw puzzles, chocolate, "The Price is Right", and various Indian movies and shows on Zee TV. I started calling her the most pampered person in the world.

Soon after arriving in the States, Pepe began to ask to visit India. After all, she'd spent her whole life there, and had many memories, friends, and relatives there. Finally, this year, she got her wish. Her three daughters, one of my cousins, and my Dad took her home, stopping in England, where one of my aunts lives, over Thanksgiving on the way back. She must have been truly happy and thankful to see her homeland and her family after being away for so long.

Pepe was beautiful and strong, mischievous and stern, compassionate and wise. The light of the world dimmed a little on Thursday, 2 December 2004 as she passed away at the age of 82.