It's hard to believe it has been a week since we lost our beloved Grandma Carol. My heart breaks and I miss her terribly! I feel badly for my uncle, my dad, and my grandpa. I have so many fond memories of that great woman. First and foremost, the eight years of piano lessons. Once a week Grandma would pick me up from school or home with a candy bar and a pop, and we would drive out to Eva Grace's for piano lessons. Grandma would wait in the car when the weather was nice; only when it was cold would she wait in the house. She would park under the mulberry tree, and when it was loaded with the sweet berries, she would pick them and eat them. She would pay the $3.00 for my lesson, and would usually buy a carton of farm fresh eggs. I had no idea that those lessons would give my life the direction for my future. I love music, and I thank my grandma for taking me to those lessons, though many times I didn't really want to go or wasn't very prepared. The mulberries spark another memory of driving out in the country to pick mulberries at a house, that I actually think is just west of me. We picked so many mulberries, and on the way back, we stopped and played in a ditch full of water. I was pretty young at the time, so it's all a little blurry; but I know that Krystal was there, and I don't know about Kary or Konnie. I also have memories of going to the Lamar parade, as well as going to Lamar for our birthdays. Grandma would let us choose where we wanted to eat, and then she would take us to J&N Shoes to buy us a pair of new shoes for our birthday. I remember grandma insisting on taking me for the same tradition when I was pregnant with Christopher. Another great memory is Christmas Eve. We would play fun family trivia games, guess how much money was in the change box (I won it a few times), sing Christmas Carols, and open presents. I remember riding home with grandpa and grandma after church while mom finished fixing Sunday lunch. I loved and still have the dolls and blankets that grandma put so much time and love into making. I remember their old house and having Easter egg hunts in the yard. I remember sitting on the front porch swing of that old house and waiting for Grandpa Vernon to get home from work at Neoplan. We would wait for the bus to drop him off at the corner and then we would walk down the street to meet him. I remember going to the Credit Union to visit grandma at work. I remember going to the cemetery with grandma to decorate her parent's grave. I remember how much she loved lighthouses and music boxes. I remember how much she loved "Silver Bells" and "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day". I remember sitting with her at the piano while she played for church. She would always remark about what a nice family I have with sweet and good kids, and a good husband. She was so loving! I will miss grandma dearly. It was difficult not having her ask me if I was ready for my concert this year, or talking to her about how it went after it was all said and done. She was always so proud! I will never forget her reaction when I told her that we were naming Caylee after her. She cried and was very honored. I will never forget how she would say, "Little Cay-Lee". The last time I visited her in the hospital, it was almost more than I could bear to see her that way. I knew that it would be the last. I wasn't planning to go see her that weekend before she passed, but she wasn't doing well and Jan wanted to take me. How grateful I am to Jan for that! I'm so glad I got to kiss grandma's forehead and tell her that I loved her one last time. What an honor it was to have her as a grandma! Oh grandma, I'm so glad that you are no longer suffering, but we will miss you terribly. I love you!!
