Dear grandmother and granddaddy,
Not a day goes by that I don't think of you both. I always knew that I was blessed to have you as my grandparents.
It's hard to believe that it's been 14 years since you went to heaven, granddaddy. I find myself dreaming and longing for a chance to hug you and hear you say, "Honey, it's your number one granddaughter." You will never know how special you were (and still are) to me. I never felt like I was missing anything (e.g. relationship with daddy) because you were always around for my special (and not so special) moments. You put on a suit to attend my college graduation and to hear me speak to the graduating class. The year I became the Sallie Mae New Teacher of the Year for the school system, you and grandmother were in the audience watching me get my award and cheering me on. I could see on your face that you were proud of me. You'll never know how much that meant to me. I'm so thankful to have memories with you: working cows (oh how I wish we still had Missy, she was a great horse), horseback riding in the park (remember the time the cinch on my saddle broke and I went flying off Flash only to have him stop a few steps before running over me?), flying your model airplanes at the race track, and the time you drove me to Miami for my pharmacy school interview (to name a few). Remember the pocket knife that I lost in the hay bales? I was so sad. You told me not to cry, you'd buy me a new one. You did! I've never forgotten.
I remember the last time I spoke to you before you passed. It was May 8, 1997. A Thursday night. I called to tell you that I'd be out in the morning to spend the weekend with you and grandmother. Grandmother had gone to the guard station in the park to meet the pizza delivery guy (since they didn't deliver to your house). I can't tell you how much I wish that I had gone out to your house that night instead of waiting. What was so important that I couldn't go?
Grandmother, you went to meet granddaddy in heaven 11 1/2 years ago on Friday, June 16, 2000. I remember it so vividly. I'm thankful everyday that we stayed up all night talking before you passed. I remember how relieved I was when you took your last breath. I knew that I would miss you terribly, but I also knew that you were going to a very special place. You would reunite with granddaddy and Genie.
To you, I attribute my love of crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles. I always enjoyed our time putting together puzzles. When we finally moved on to the 3D puzzles, they were hard. But, we persevered and always finished what we started. And, you ALWAYS knew the word I needed when working a crossword puzzle. I still have Grandpa M's crossword dictionary that you gave me. I promise I'm taking good care of it.
I remember staying with you and granddaddy on the weekends. We'd watch Love Boat and Fantasy Island. I'd want granddaddy's chair so I'd ask him when he was going to bed. I loved how you two had your chairs next to each other with the coffee table in between. I loved having a bowl of "tutti fruity" ice cream (really Neapolitan) with granddaddy after dinner and while we watched tv. At night when we'd get hungry (and after dinner, of course), you would cook those tiny shrimp and we would dip them in melted garlic butter. Yummy! I always loved it when granddaddy went to the Keys during lobster season. He'd bring us back lots of lobster, still one of my favorite things to eat. And while I'm on the topic of food, I LOVED having a meatloaf sandwich with your leftover meatloaf. Makes my mouth water thinking about it.
Although we had always been close, I feel like we really got to know one another when I lived with you. It seems like just yesterday you were making my breakfast before I went to work teaching and setting out my vitamin for me so I wouldn't forget to take it. I feel so fortunate to have lived with you right after granddaddy passed. We had some great conversations, about everything. Thanks for letting me move in and for taking care of me. I know that it helped both of us cope with losing granddaddy but you'll never really know how much having you around helped me deal with losing him. It was like going to therapy talking to you about him. We shared so many memories.
Thank you for taking me to the theater (Annie was always one of my favorites) and our many outings for lunch. Thanks for taking me to the movies. How did we sit through the Friday the 13th movies? I can't watch them at all now. Remember the time you and granddaddy drove to Tampa for the day? We went to Outback and had appetizers. You two were always doing little things like that to make me feel special, thank you. Thanks for listening to me and always providing me with words of encouragement.
I wish you both could have met Z. You would have loved him. He's a great husband and father. He has a terrific sense of humor and keeps me in line. Granddaddy, you would understand that. R and G are great kids and I know you would have spoiled, I mean love, them as much as you spoiled (loved) me.
Thank you for being my grandparents. Thank you for letting me know that I could be anything I wanted. Thank you for supporting me and loving me unconditionally. I miss you and I know that you would be proud of the woman, wife, and mother that I've become!
Until we reunite in Heaven, I will honor you with my life, my family, and my home!
I love you,
J
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