My Memaw was one of a kind! She wasn't the pie and cookie baking kind of grandma. Instead, you would probably find her at the Thanksgiving table telling a dirty joke! Her loud cackle could be heard across the whole house!She wasn't the huggy, lovey kind of grandma. So, how did I know she loved me? Maybe it was the way she spanked my butt all the way from the road to the house when I was about 4 and decided that playing in the road would be fun. At the time, I thought she was being mean, but now that I'm a mom I realize that I scared her half to death! Or maybe it because she knew how much I loved her beef and noodles and baked beans, so she made that meal everytime I came to visit. I don't know what she did to those baked beans, but they were awesome! Poor Mom tries to get hers like Memaw's, but they are never the same. Very good, but just not like Memaw's! Or maybe it was because no matter how much she despised the Superbowl Shuffle, she let Travis, Trevor and I listen to it the every time it came on the radio when we were going to Michigan. And at that time, that song was played constantly! Or maybe it was the fact that she never had much money, but each and every one of her kids and grandkids had a gift under the Christmas tree. She would start shopping the day after Christmas for the next year. Some of my very favorite gifts came from her. She got me the western Barbie and Ken that had a little stamper that made lip prints. And this past week after Michael Jackson died, I was reminded that she bought me the super cool parachute pants that I longed for. When I got to be a teenager, I collected Christmas bears every year. I always knew she would get me my bear. My very favorite gift though, was the afghan she made for me. I think she made us all afghans that year. I pull that afghan out on cold winter nights and snuggle up in it. I always think of her when I get it out. It's a way of always keeping her with me. I always loved her Christmas tree. She always had those silver icicle things on her tree. And all her gifts had the ribbons that you curl with scissors. I remember going Christmas shopping in Lafayette with her. We sang Christmas carols all the way up there. Winter Wonderland was our favorite. We both sang at the top of our lungs. I'm sure we sounded like 2 howling dogs, but we had fun. When my birthday came around, I always knew there would be a card in the mail from her. It always had $5 and a long newsy letter about what she had been up to, what the weather was like. I think that's when it actually sunk in that she was gone. In 1998 when my birthday came around and there was no card. That nearly broke my heart. I loved Memaw with all my heart. I wish she were here today so my kids could know her. I know she would be proud of them. She would have been 80 years old today. And she would probably still be beating Grandpa Tom at Scrabble! He didn't have a chance against her! LOL! I could go on and on, but I have way too many memories and there just really aren't enough words to tell you how much I miss her. Happy Birthday Memaw! I love and miss you!
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