Oct. 15th marks three years since my Grandmother passed away. As many close to me know: my Grandmother was like a Mother to me. She took care of me a lot and taught me MANY different things in life. She was a hard working woman who I always believed to be quite strong. But I'm sure, she like many of us- hid a lot of her weaknesses. Call me crazy but sometimes I still talk to her and in these past few years during some trying times in my life I really wish I would have had her here with me. But I don't, so I just hold onto the memories like many of us do who have lost a loved one. Sometimes though as I ageI am afraid I'll forget those memories that I hold onto that are so dear to me. I think I'll take the moment to reflect on some memories:
~She always had this red flower tied onto her antenna of her car. I just saw one the other day on another car and asked Kelly "What organization are those from?" He couldn't remember either but he knew that Grandma always had one on her car.
~She always fed the birds.
~She was very good with Kenny. She was more of a grandmother to him than a "great" grandmother to him. She watched him a lot while I worked and she spent a lot of time with him making sure he knew he was loved by her.
~She saved every last left over at supper. I once saw her stick like 10 nibblets of corn in a bowl and back into the frig. I honestly think she eventually would give the leftovers to the birds.
~She would always give me the "privledge" of going to get my Papa out of the garage at supper time. She would always say "You can go get your Papa and tell him its time to eat."
~She would always let me ring the bell at church. I remember it being so heavy. I wonder if I'd go back now if it would be so heavy? lol!
~She loved the color red
~She loved what she called "red birds."
~I used to love going out to eat with my grandparents on Sundays after church. Now, my grandfather didn't go to church but we would go home and get him & then we would go out to eat dinner.
~She always brought "smarties" to chuch for me.
~Anytime you went to her house she would try to feed you.
~She kept buttermilk in the frig almost %100 of the time
~She put butter on everything! (Even lunch meat sandwhiches! Eeewww!)
~She saved food in her frig-way to long. One time she gave Kelly cheese that was green but she swore it was still good.
~Saturday was shopping day. She would always make breakfast (eggs and bacon) every Sat. morning. I could smell it cooking in the mornings as I laid in bed.
~Amazing Grace was one of her favorite songs
~She was a stubborn but kind woman
~I loved sitting on the swing in her yard. We used to sit there and swing as we would watch the cars go by
~She very often called me "Barbie" or "Karen"
~She loved to send cards to people for many different ocassions or "just because."
~I loved going to her house on Christmas. Holidays were never the same once she quit having holiday dinners.
~She always kept fingernail files on her little end table by the couch. And her little "Pockets" --hmmm...I can't remember what they were called...they were little books she got from the church with daily readings in them. If anyone remembers the name of them email me!
~There was always a bible beside the couch too
~She loved Young and the Restless and she always called it her "story."
~She drove very slowly lol and I was afraid to ride with her in her later years.
I was blessed to have a grandmother like her in my life and I know not everyone was as blessed or is as blessed. I could not have asked for a better Grandmother, she had her faults as we all do but I still couldn't be who I am today without having her in my life for as long and as much as I did. So I thank her for being there and playing a HUGE part in who I am today.
I could go on and on with memories. But I just wanted to take a few moments and reflect.
RIP Grandma Feb. 8, 1919--Oct. 15th,2007
I love you and I know you are watching over all of us;-- all of your family.
