A Year

I don't feel the need for fancy font today.

A year ago today my Grandma Millie passed away. I would like to use this post to say a few things about my her. I hope you don't mind.

Many people are close to their grandparents, and I will not be conceited and demand that our relationship was stronger than most, but it was definitely unique. My Grandma Millie (My father's mother) and my Great-Grandma Luella (My mother's side) had a very large hand in raising me. As almost everyone knows, my mother had me when she was 17 and we were both lucky to have such a supportive family. My grandmas stepped in and made sure I was given a good and stable life. I owe them everything.

My Grandma Millie was a very eccentric lady. She was kind of over the top and harsh sometimes but her heart was always in the right place. Even though I went to school over 30 minutes away she never missed a play, dance recital, singing competition, choir concert, grandparent's day, or church musical. She taught me how anything can be turned into a very tacky (but marketable) 'crafty.' She helped me make fake lollipops when I decided to choreograph "Lollipop" for my girl scout talent show. She made me chocolate dipped peanut butter buckeye treats every Christmas, and would yell at anyone who tried to sneak one from my bag. She took me to Ponderosa and let me eat 1 plate of food and 3 kinds of desserts. She watched old musicals with me over and over and never acted like she was sick of them.

If it wasn't for her I never would have seen my dad growing up. He was immature and in over his head. She made sure to pick me up in St. Louis and take me to wherever my dad was in Illinois any weekend she could so that we could visit.

She took me to New Mexico and dressed me up like an Indian for one of the local pow wows. She took me yard-saling at 5 am and bought me 50 cent presents that would keep me happy for weeks. She took me out to breakfast at the Hen House afterward because she knew I was hungry after waking up so early.

She always supported me. Always believed in me. Always told me how proud she was of me. She told me I was beautiful. She told me she wished I would come around more. I told her I did my best. I am almost positive I could have done a whole lot better.

My Grandma died in her early 60's. She took care of me. She took care of our entire family. She even adopted 5 of my cousins and let me Great-Grandma live in the spare room. She never EVER took care of herself. That is what inevitably did it.

I love my Grandma Millie and I miss her so very much. I am certain she is in a greater state of peace now than she ever was on Earth, but somehow that doesn't make me feel any better.

I am sorry that this is an emotional and depressing post, but it is important to me that people know how special my Grandmother was. She was a mother to me.

In Loving Memory of Amelia Weatherford.
I miss you.

-C