Grams

I love this picture.  At first glance it looks like a picture of Jack, but it you look in the background carefully you'll see my grandmother.  We happenned to be in Franklin one day when it snowed.  She was so tickled to have us there and to watch the boys play in the snow.  This picture captures her personality for me.  She is grinning from ear to ear and in the background. 
She was the best grandmother a girl could ask for.  I was able to tell her that before she died.  In fact, I was able to tell her a lot in that quiet hospital room with just me and her.  Last Wednesday, though, I told her goodbye for the last time, this side of eternity.  I got to her room and she died five minutes later.  I was holding her hand as she met Jesus.  I will forever believe that she waited on me.  I will forever be grateful for the honor. 
Someone asked me what made her so great and I began compiling a list in my mind (I do love a list):
-As a child I honestly believed we went to Chucky E. Cheese (Showbiz Pizza) because SHE wanted to go.  Grin.
-She took me all around Nashville to places like the Hermitage, Cheekwood, and the Adventure Science Center.
-She always treated me like a young lady.  As a child I can remember holding my own crystal goblet at the perfectly set dinner table. 
-She was the best shopping partner.  She would last longer than me. 
-She intorduced me to classic/old movies like Singing in the Rain, Meet Me in St. Louis and North and South.   
-She told me stories about when she was a child.  I hung on to those stories.  I loved hearing them. 
-When we would go to dinner my grandfather would insist on paying and he'd say, "You can spend it now while we're with you or you can have it when we're gone."  What I wouldn't give to have dinner with them again.  What I wouldn't give. 
  -We always went to church with them on Easter Sunday.  I can still hear her singing.  I hope I never lose that sound in my mind. I loved going to church with her.  I loved her humble, simple faith.
-Speaking of singing...she spoke to me in a sing songy voice.  No one said my name quite like she did.  
-When I was with her she made me feel like there was nothing else she would rather be doing.
-Even through dementia when I would leave she would say, "Call me when you get home."
-She had impeccable taste...from clothes, to furniture, to food.  Impeccable.
-When my grandfather died she stayed by his side until the very last moments.  The morning of his funeral I watched her hold her head up, lay out her clothes and lead our family as we grieved his loss. 
-When you asked her if she needed anything she would grin and say, "A million dollars".  Always made me laugh.  She also said, "Money doesn't make you happy, but if I had to choose I'd rather be rich and misersable as opposed to poor and miserable."  Ha! 
-She loved me...plain and simple.  She loved me.  And I loved her. 

My list could go on and on.  She left me with a lifelong heritage, for which I will forever be grateful.  In the words of Clayton, this isn't the end, but merely the beginnig for her.  I'll see her again someday, but for today, I sure do miss her. 

The last time I took her out from her "hotel" we went to The Cheesecake Factory and shared a piece of cheesecake.  She looked so pretty sitting across from me.  Precious lady.  xoxo