R.I.P

My great grandmother "is a bell necessary on a bicycle" passed away yesterday. She was extremely special to my sister and I growing up. She spent every winter that I can remember with our family in Florida. My sister and I were always so happy when she came to stay with us. She had some great one liners that would knock just about anybody over. She did all of our chores, for about three months of the year we didn't even have to think about whether our clothes were clean. Somedays it seemed as though we had just taken them off before she was giving us a clean pile to put away.

Gram had a special chair, it swiveled and rocked. We didn't use it any other time of the year, (trust me it was not attractive), but when Gram would come to stay with us we always rearranged the furniture. Her chair had to be in the center of all the happenings.

She listened to the television loud, but if you had the radio on too loud she would sit in the living room with her hands over her ears. She wouldn't buy green bananas, because at her age she wasn't sure she would be around to eat them. Ask her how she liked her pork chop, she would respond with "mint jelly, please." She ate gummy orange slices and green mint leaves like they were going out of style. She had an anniversary for every day... so and so died today, so and so got married for the 3rd time today, so and so graduated from high school today. Everyday, was an anniversary or special occasion for something.

One thing we loved about her was the fact that you never knew what was going to come next. Our mom would tell us to ask Gram to do things, that she knew Gram would say no to, but it was always nice to be asked. Well that came back to bite us several times. This one particular incident, I had a SINGLE taco, and my mom told me to ask Gram if she would like one. Gram didn't like tacos, but on this particular day Gram responded with "Sure, dear I would love a taco." So much for me getting a taco. Another day, I was headed to the beach, mom told me to ask Gram if she wanted to go. Gram wasn't a huge fan of being in the sun, so she most of the time doesn't like the beach. Well, not that day. She was all up for it. She went to her room and changed clothes for the beach. I can remember looking at my mom, and all she could was laugh. Gram wasn't known for being tactful, my mother likes to drink coke out of a wine or champagne glass, at dinner one night Gram looked over at my mom and said "you are drinking entirely to much and piling on the pounds." Rut Rhoe, wrong thing to say, but that was Gram. You never knew what she was going to say.

She would tell people that she never met, it was so good to see them again. Of late, you could tell her mind and body were starting to go. I called to wish her a happy thanksgiving and she responded with "thanks, happy easter to you." I kind of laughed, but she was serious, she continued to ask questions about me going to church. My roommates got a kick out of it, and so did I.

I know she is in a better place and visiting the rest of her friends. Heck when you live to be 99, you probably out lived everyone you ever knew. I miss her very much. Maybe, I will whip up a batch of her incredible cream puffs, in memory of her. She had an incredibly special bond with my mother. It was amazing to watch the two interact. May you all be blessed with that type of special relationship. Take the extra minute to make people smile. Go above and beyond their expectations. My mother always did for Gram, and Gram did that for my mother.