my grami.

My sweet Grami passed away on Mother's Day morning. For the week prior to her passing, she was surrounded by her children, her grandchildren and many others who loved her. I was able to visit her, sit by her bed, hold her hand and Taylor and I even did the "hoedown dance" for her. She didn't open her eyes for it, but I know she loved it. It's hard to put into words the feelings I have for my Grami, but I want to try. I need my children to know how much I love her and the special relationship she had with her grandchildren.

I was the third grandchild in the family, so I think Amber and Justin (the first two) could very possibly have been the favorites, but I hope I wasn't too far off. From the time I can remember, my Grami was everywhere I was. My most memorable summers were spent at Grami's house. We would swim, come in for lunch in her immaculate house, watch Days of Our Lives while Grami tickled our backs (it was always a fight for Grami's lap), go back to swim and then eat some hot Snickerdodles in the spa. This was a daily ritual in the summer and I cherish those memories. I knew I had a Grami who loved me.

My Grami didn't miss any special occasion. From birthdays, to dance recitals, to school plays, to piano recitals, Grami was always there. She would congratulate me, tell me how proud she was of me, give me a big kiss and maybe a slap on the butt, and make me feel like I was so special.

I loved outings with my Grami. Us sisters and my mom would meet Grami at the jelwery store where she would always spoil us with a little trinket (from the random jewelery bin) and give us a dollar for a carob and soy ice cream bar at the Health Food Store next door. Grami would let me sit on her lap and play with the old school calculator that had the roll of paper on the top. I thought it was fascinating. She would tell me how it worked and about the accounting she was doing and let me draw on a roll of extra paper. When Grami was ready and Mom had finished a restringing she was delivering, we would say goodbye to Grandpa and the uncles (well maybe not Ron, he scared the begeebees outta me:) and off we went to the mall.

Grami always got the very best parking place, no matter what time of day, no matter where we went. I would always say, "Grami, how do you do that?" and she told me it was because they must have expected she was coming. We always went to the same spot; upstairs at Dillards. (Grami still called it Diamonds because she thought the name was better) Grami would spoil us rotten and if we had a friend a long, she would spoil them rotten too. After we were finished shopping we would go down to the restaurant in Dillards and have lunch. When we were finished and Mom would leave a tip, Grami would always sneak some of the dollars off of the table when mom wasn't looking and put one in my pocket and one in Amber's. We thought it was awesome, nobody was better than Grami.

As I got older and we were shopping for school clothes, Grami would always try to get me to buy the shorter skirts. She told me I had too nice of legs to cover them up with long skirts and pants. Not your typical Grandma. Grami loved all things feminine, clean, beautiful, proper, and most of all PINK. Grami LOVED pink. When Taylor was 1 1/2 she came over with 3 huge bags of Old Navy and Gap clothes that were loaded with pink clothes for my baby girl. The spoiling tradition continued.

Grami was always worried about me. When I was in high school, she told me I was working too hard and I need some sleep... true. When I was in college, she told me I needed some new clothes... true (she remedied that quickly when she came to visit). When I was in the Dominican Republic, she sent me letters reminding me to be careful and come home if I wanted to. When I was engaged to Chad, she told me that there was no man that would ever be good enough for me, so he would have to do. When I was pregnant with my babies, she would tell me to sit down, and take a break, and always call to make sure I wasn't pushing myself too hard.

She was there when I was born, when I took my first steps, when I went to school, when I was baptized, when I turned 16, when I graduated high school, when I graduated college, when I got married, when my first baby was born, and I know she is watching over me now.

My Grami loved her children, her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren, and her husband and she always put us before herself. I miss Grami already. I miss her stubborness, her witty remarks, her arguing with Chad about why the Laker's were the best, her smell, her kisses, her high heels, her shopping "SPEED-WALK," and mostly her way of making me feel that I was the most special and amazing person in the world.

Grami is a big part of me and who I am, and it is impossible to think that life will be the same with out her. I know I will see her again, but until then I hope I can continue making her proud and give her a little something to brag about to her friends in heaven.

I Love You Grami.