A Letter to my Gramma...

My Gramma passed on from this life peacefully today with my Mom by her side.

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Gram, this is what I'll remember about you...

:: Picking wild flowers for you as I walked up our road to see you next door.  Your surprise & delight at my gift, every time.

:: That you named me Becca.

:: Your teaching me to play Chinese checkers, never letting me win but always showing me a better move.  Playing it each & every time I came to see you and loving it.  You with your coffee and cigarette, me with my "pop".

:: Going to visit the barn cats together and feeding them milk.  Putting medicine on their eyes when they were sick.

:: Helping to set the picnic table for lunch. Sahlen's hot dogs and watermelon.

:: Your question, "What's the first rule of baking?" My silly answers. (real answer: wash your hands)

:: Helping you make chocolate bunnies every year before Easter.  That you made each of us a big basket with all our favorites, orange chocolate for me.

:: Always telling me how soft my skin was as you stroked my cheek. 

:: Helping you make Chow Mein Chocolates for Christmas and sneaking tastes of them together.

:: That your favorite flowers were Morning Glories.

:: Your skinny pancakes & real maple syrup.  Ham dinners on Sunday.  Your buttery dinner rolls.

:: Helping you get groceries. You always told me how good I was. 

:: Staying at your house too late.  I was scared to walk home in the dark so you would hold a flash light & talk to me while I walked down the road in the dark. 

:: Your tomato & mayo sandwiches.

:: Your wild summer garden out back. 

:: Teaching me how to drive way too young and getting caught by Mom!

:: Your delight at telling me a new joke, most not to be repeated.

:: Your hot pink lipstick and your insistence that I needed some.

:: Your smoke filled car.  Telling you I am allergic and you telling me to open a window.  Saying you should really quit smoking and hearing a playful, "oh shut up".

:: Your favorite color, green.

:: Going "yardsale-ing" on Saturday morning, helping you to read the signs. You, always trying to buy me things.  Hiding any yard sale goods from Grampa.

:: Your laughter, wicked sense of humor and spark.  They called you feisty before you passed and that is exactly what you were and are.

I'll remember these things and many more. Most of all I'll remember the love.

Though our eyes can no longer see you Gram, I know in my heart that you are well, at peace and live on. You have simply walked into the next room of Life.  I love you Gram, with all my heart! 


Your granddaughter, 


Becca