Last night I was telling Moses my favourite Grandma Irene memories---and there were so many...
As a kid, and even teenager, there was nothing better than spending a "sleepover weekend" at Grandma's. I remember Mom and Dad dropping me off and reminding Grandma that I should not drink coke, eat chocolate, go to bed late, etc. etc. Grandma would nod accordingly, and as soon as the door would shut she would turn around with a devious grin and we would both break into laughter as she pulled out the chocolate bars (she certainly loved her chocolate), sour candies, and ice cream. We'd spend the days playing cards (Rummy was our favourite game), swimming in the pool, going to the Zoo, or watching late (late) night TV together. The biggest treat was when she'd make Kyle and I her speciality---nachos in the microwave. (Kyle and I didn't yet have a microwave at home, and we marveled at the incredible nachos she'd prepare. Still to this day, I make those very same nachos and think of her).
My earliest memory of Grandma is quite a funny one. I remember being around 4 years old, and had a favourite doll, who was black. I called her quite simply "black baby" and I remember one day Grandma saying to me that I couldn't call her that anymore; "she needed a real name, afterall, I didn't call all my other dolls "white baby", now did I?" This point made sense to my four-year-old-self, so together we decided to rename her "Suzy Q". A silly memory, but a telling one. Grandma had a special way of teaching all of her grandchildren things in a playful kind manner.
I also remember being very young and Grandma rolling around on all fours with Kyle and I on the floor of her apartment--- playing our favourite game "cats". We'd play that game for hours, and she always seemed to be just as amused as we were!
I always thought of Grandma as very glamorous. She would let me organize her jewelry box for her, which was full of exotic earrings, rings, and necklaces from her travels. She had a great set of shoes and matching purses, which she would let me line up along her bed. I loved when she would paint our nails, matching pink. And later, when she was in Rosewood and could no longer do it herself, I would return the favour, and do her hair and paint her nails on our back deck. Even then, she loved it! Always a real lady! Mom and I would giggle uncontrollably every time an older man in the elevator or a restaurant would say something like "Wow, doesn't your sister look great!" She was done with all that "men stuff" (her words) but we'd love to tease her and call her a "real looker!!".
When she got older, and her memory wasn't very good, Mom and I still knew how to light up her day. We'd take her out for lunch ---which had to include a coffee and some sort of chocolate for desert. We’d all giggle together as she'd say over and over "this is heaven"!! She always appreciated the small things in life, and even up to a year ago she'd still get excited when we'd bring her chocolates or a coffee to the home.
Grandma was an enormous part of my life, right up until today. I will miss her but I am happy to know that she is at peace and in a better place.
Everyone should be as lucky as we were to have known someone so special. I only hope that I can have a percentage of her kindness, love, enthusiasm, and above all infectious "joie de vivre"!
Love you, Granny!
