handsful

This morning I got the call that my grandmother in NJ passed away.  She had been sick for almost a month, enduring at least 2 heart attacks and a stroke.  Her body had had enough, and she let go.  She was 89 years old. 

The last time I saw my grandmother was in 2006, when we all flew up to NJ for her 85th birthday.  The picture above is when she came down to NC in 1998, to see the triplets after they were born. 

Since I’ve not seen her very much in my adult years, most of my memories of her are from my childhood.  Specifically during the summers that my mom and I would spend a week in NJ with her.  Spending a week in her huge house (it seemed huge to me), and always going to the NJ shore, were highlights of my summers.  She…

* loved my southern accent and showed it off to her friends

* had a room in her house full of plants and a 2-way radio that my cousin and I would play with, talking to “unknown” people.  We felt very mysterious. 

* made the most amazing display of Christmas cookies you’ve ever seen.  The ones with the silver ball sprinkles looked too pretty to eat. 

* had old copies of Miss America books that I would pour over. 

* took us to the beach everytime we visited.  I loved walking with her as she used her metal detector.  At the end of the day, we’d change out of our bathing suits under the Ocean City boardwalk. 

* lived in an old neighborhood (this was the house my mom grew up in), and we could walk around the corner to Del-Buono’s bakery.  I can almost smell it now.  If you’re ever in Haddon Heights, check it out. 

* had a crazy, loud laugh and was always joking around.  She seemed to always have the attitude that troubles were just “water off a duck’s back” to her. 

That’s how I remember her.  And, always will.  Goodbye Grandmom B.