You Are Lovely

Today would have been Imogene's 85th birthday. This picture was taken of her in a chair she sat in only when her chair was taken by one of her grandkids. Which meant my dad had to find another chair. After so many years of visiting the same place, everyone kind of claims their favorite spot and gravitates towards it. Most often, you would find her sitting in her chair, telling stories, watching her great-grandkids, and nodding off every once in a while. (That is, when she wasn't busy in the kitchen doing something.) You can tell in this photo, she's wearing a housecoat. So very Imogene, though... to be wearing a housecoat and pearls. Also looks like she has a fresh application of Burt's Bees on. After leaving Jonesy after her funeral, Angie and I stopped in Hardy, a favorite destination on the trip to and from Grandma's. I think I walked away from Hardy with 4 or 5 new tubes of Burt's Bees. Simply because it made me think of her.

I used to think I talk too much. I used to think it was a bad thing. Hear me when I say I KNOW I talk too much. However, it's a small piece of my grandma that I carry with me every day. Now, whenever I notice my rambling nature, instead of becoming insecure and self-conscious, I smile and think of her and am grateful for the ways little pieces of her live on within me, within my sisters, within my dad. Even within my mom, who wasn't related by blood, but who will still put a rubber-band around a half eaten package of crackers to keep them from going stale. I'm still waiting for the day I find a Folgers can full of lard stashed in the back of the fridge.

Today, I am wearing some earrings my grandma made several years ago. I was with her when she made them. She actually made several sets of earrings / necklaces that summer, most of which she gave away. But this pair, she kept. I love it because I get so many compliments on these earrings. She certainly had great taste. With exception to those weird trinkets she kept in the lawyers bookshelves in the sitting room. And those angel nightgowns she used to buy us. And there was that really ugly cowboy statue thing she had. Ok. Maybe it was just the jewelry she had great taste in. Well, jewelry and people. No one knew quite how to love like Imogene.

For her 80th birthday, we had the Arkansas Smiths drive her to Branson where my family all met and surprised her with a weekend full of family, food, and even The Dixie Stampede. We were staying in a cabin / vacation home thing and we all hid when she came. She got settled into the living room and one by one, we all came to the door and knocked to be let in. Each time she saw someone new, she squealed with delight and clapped her hands. It was such a joy to bless her because she made sure you knew how much it meant to her. She never took a second of your time for granted. Even the phone calls would always end with, "Thank you so much for calling me, sweetie. It is so good to hear your voice. I love you so very much." Of course, you'd hear that 3 or 4 times before you got off the phone because she'd always remember a story she wanted to tell you between telling you that and actually saying goodbye.

She was quite the protector of us, always taking the side of the child who's feelings were hurt or the person who was getting made fun of. Even the night before she went into the hospital, my mom and I were with her and Casey and Dad had just gotten in town. She had me make them wait outside so she could be presentable when they walked in because she was so happy to see them, she just wanted to look her best for them. That night, I was making fun of Dad's feet for something or another. She popped me on the hand and said to me, "Now, you just leave him alone. He's a wonderful man and his feet don't bother me any. He can't help it if they smell."

mmmm. You make me smile, Grandma. I love you dearly and am so thankful for the memories. Even the one where we all got in trouble because we went to the park without telling you and you were worried. It brings me much joy to know your heart. I thank God He has brought you home. I'm sure He's created the perfect pink chair for you that sits directly across the room from Grandpa where you have your pear knife and your ice water right to your left, sitting on a folded paper towel. I'm sure He even remembered to put a straw in the water for you. Happy birthday, Grandma. You bless me.