The Best Grandmother

This is my favorite picture of me and Grandmother.  It was taken in Nov. 1985 when I got my Eagle Scout.  I was 15 and she was 70.  This is the way that I want to remember her.  When she was active and full of life.  I have so many thoughts today and would like to share some of them here so if you will indulge me a bit, I have a bit to write.

My brother and I were fortunate to grow up in Orlando and see Grandmother frequently.  My favorite memories of her were the times I spent the weekend in town with her.  Grandmother was a very talkative and active person.  She knew a little about everything and so we always had things to talk about.   There were no awkward moments of silence with her.   I loved talking to her about World War II or politics or my mom's childhood or hers.  One time we looked at all the slides of their trip out west just because I wanted to see pictures of Disneyland.  We would often watch TV sitting up in the twin beds in her room.  This was how I saw the Sound of Music for the first time.

Many of you know how much I enjoy studying World War II.  Much of my interest in that time period began with Grandmother answering questions I had about the war.  For a long time she was my number one source of information.  One of the nicest and most thoughtful things she ever did for me involved the war.  One time when I spent the night, on Sunday after church, she had Mr. White and Mr. Morris and their wives over for lunch.  They both served in the war and after lunch I talked to them about their experiences.  What a thoughtful thing for her to arrange for me!  I will never forget that and all the times she encouraged me to learn.

After Granddad died Grandmother would take my brother and I to Disney every year for our birthdays.  Separately!  I usually went to Epcot and we would always have lunch at one of the countries in World Showcase.  What I enjoyed most about those times is that Grandmother seemed to understand me.  I was quite awkward as a teenager and never felt like I fit in but when I was with her I felt loved and accepted just the way I was.  She made me feel special.   Grandmother was a little bit superstitious and one of the times we were there she demonstrated just how much to me.  I will never forget it.  We were walking along the lake and at some point we each went on different sides of a pole.  She suddenly said, "bread and butter."  I looked at her funny and she told me to say it too.  I asked why.  She replied that if I didn't say it, something might get in the way of our friendship but that if I said "bread and butter" we would always be friends.  So I said it and I believe she was right.  We will always be friends.

I'm sure we will have more things to share over the next few days both here and when we're together in Orlando.  I am looking forward to seeing all of you.  I think she is one of the reasons all of us are so close.  I hope others will post their pictures and memories of her so we can all share our fondness for Grandmother.