Grandma (and Grandpa) have always made their home, my home. The number of holidays spent at the crafting table making ornaments together, popcorn strings for the tree, making bird suet blocks to hang up outside, bringing "birdie" bread, corn cobs, and such to feed the wildlife right in front of the big bay window. The treasured times of learning how to cook, to make some of the dishes they put on the table were also some of my favorite activities with them. It was a home that I never wanted to leave because it was filled with so much love, feeling safe, and never feeling judged. It made me so overjoyed knowing I would be staying there when we needed to. The special moments of watching wildlife together and breaking out the books to see if we could identify which bird we saw, or the type of squirrel that visited and tortured the birds for the rights to feed! HAHAHAHA! Having Grandma in the audience while I perform in our high-school concerts or other extra curricular activities, I so enjoyed having her around! I felt like I could take the world on by the strength and love she gave me. For when life got so unbearable for me, Grandma (and Grandpa) were there when no one else was.
I always witnessed Grandma welcoming someone in the home when they arrived. "Can I get you a soda? You want coffee? Tea? Are you hungry? Have you eaten yet? You wanna fudgicle? I think I still have fudgicles if Dad hasn't eaten them all on the kids." - (Yep, she called them fudgicles, never fudgsicles.) She was the welcome committee that you could guarantee you would be fed, you would have a drink, and you would have a seat at the table and gab, gab, gab up a storm.
Holidays boasting the most amazing food were not complete until Uncle Danny was caught stealing the deviled eggs and then Grandma scolding him immediately after! LOL! She was forever the Protector of All Things Confection. The numerous attempts of Konky stealing our pudding cups, our jello cup, taking a bite of our fudgicles, or the notorious pull-my-finger maneuver - (I am laughing so hard typing this, tears rolling down my face) - Grandma was there to save the grandchildren for they were robbed of their confectionary goodness! LOL!!! "GRANDPA, THAT'S NOT YOUR FUDGICLE, GO GET YOUR OWN DAMN FUDGICLE" - lol! Dont even get me started with the whole "pull my finger" because I'm about to pull an ab muscle from laughing. The escapades of Grandma rescuing us from the follies of familiar funnies were just as hilarious as Grandpa getting away with farting at the table! HAHAHAHAH
My sister and I were weird kids - we loved being able to help Grandma and Grandpa out with raking their beautiful property. They had just over an acre of land, filled with wildlife, beautiful tiger-lillies and wildflowers, and a driveway that could put multiple kids on to race on their Big Wheels for hours! The weather was always perfect, come to think of it. We would get the raking done down to two HUGE piles. We would body-flop in our leaf pile and just lay there. Grandma would pull in and bring us fresh cooked Granite State potato chips and Hawaiian punch for our snack/reward for helping to take care of the yard! We sure slept good after cleaning up that yard! :D
When I was approached by Uncle Normand and Cynthia about being able to provide the meal for after the funeral services, I broke down and cried. I was so honored and immediately said "yes".... a resounding "yes" that left me speechless and emotional. Knowing they were giving me the honor of providing the meal had left me feeling as though a torch had been given to me, to do the very thing that Grandma did: offer to feed people coming in. As soon as I completed the call with Uncle Normand, I grabbed my notebook and pen, my "granny" glasses because at age 50, sometimes I need them to see what I'm doing! HAHAHAHAH.... and got to work on the menu.
Grandma - it is because of you and Grandpa (sorry, gotta share the credit, lol) that I am who I am today. Your wisdom, your jokes, your candid but always loving approach to tough subjects helped me in ways that I really cant put words to. They meant so much. And it is thanks to you both that all the time and effort put into the kitchen has brought my life to new experiences and opportunities that each dish always carries the same treasured memories I have. The crepes Grandpa made for you, he taught me his way. I use that recipe for my husband and anyone else I feed. Everything you gave me, I give back. I share the stories and experiences with people in your name and honor. Thank you for loving me unconditionally. I still have your letter that details "testicles"... lol
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