When I think about the most influential people in my life, my Grandma Sally and Papa are at the very top of my list. Today is the third anniversary of the passing of my wonderful Papa and with the failing health of my Grandma, I feel that it is important to write about their significance in my life. It will be so wonderful for my Grandma to be with my Papa once again, but oh how I wish my girls could have known them. So, Baby A and Baby B, this is dedicated to you....here are some memories of Two of my Favorite.....
1. When I got "sick" at school, Grandma and Papa would pick me up, drive me right to Duncan Donuts and we'd get a maple bar. The stomach ache that I got sent home with, miraculously went away with maple bars.
2. Grandma Sally would always wash my feet with a warm washcloth and Dove soap. It was such a treat.
3. When living in Portland, Papa and Grandma Sally came and stayed with us at our house on Pasadena St. Papa helped me pick out the perfect hammock, help Scott dig up a rock and planted raspberries in my garden. Boy were those berries delicious!
4. I spent every birthday with Grandma and Papa from the age of 11 to 20, in Palm Springs. They always wanted to go out for my birthday dinner, but I all wanted was to stay home and have a meal cooked by my Grandma. Every year it consisted of flank steak, coleslaw, lots of sour cream, cheesy potatoes, fruit and rocky road ice cream. You would have thought that they would get sick of eating the same meal every year, but no, it was what I wanted and that was good enough for them.
5. Papa and I had a very honest relationship. He would tell me when my dye job or haircut was terrible and I would tell him when he needed to get rid of a piece of clothing. He loved shopping at Ross in Palm Desert because of the deals. I will never forget when he came home with a soccer jersey. We laughed and laughed, considering that all he wore was ironed pants and starched shirts.
6. Papa and I have a fetish for watches. He was always looking for the "perfect" watch. Over the years, he probably went through 5 watches because they were never quite right. I cherish the last one we found together and wear it often.
7. Grandma Sally was the BEST cook in the entire world.
8. Grandma Sally and Papa prayed for me everyday. I know that they never skipped a day. That is A LOT of prayers.
9. Papa and I wore "Where's the Beef" mesh hats when I was little and thought is was the funniest thing on the planet.
10. Grandma Sally and Papa would always tell me how bright my future was. Who every knew that they were so right?
I am so thankful for the wonderful memories that I have of them. They are just as important to my future, as they have been to my past. I am one lucky girl. The luckiest.
