I woke up this morning thinking about my precious Grandma and the summers I spent with her while I was a kid, when Daddy was in the Army. I thought of the weekends spent with her when I was a teenager. I recalled the big breakfasts of eggs, sausage, bacon and toast or pancakes (she always made the best pancakes) she would cook for me every Saturday and Sunday mornings I was at her house and of the many deep conversations we would have while sitting at her table. I remembered all the Uno, Skip-bo and other card games we would play together…either just the two of us or with Aunt Becky or Aunt Geneva. I thought about her taking me to church. I reminisced about the many times she would take me to the Dyersburg Mall, back when malls were in their heyday, or when she would take me to rummage sales, to Memphis, and sometimes to Alabama and Mississippi. Grandma and I would go almost everywhere when we would get out and about on the weekends. And I thought about the ice cream she would feed me…as much ice cream as I wanted. I will never forget all the times she took me to the Sonic or the old ice cream parlor on the square when it was still open. She spoiled me. At the same time, she helped teach me the manners and values which help me to navigate this world today.
I also remember the bad tornado that hit while I was with Grandma and how she threw me to the floor and got on top of me, protecting me…shielding me from possible flying debris. Grandma and I had many close calls together. Being with her was never dull or boring! It was an adventure!
The day that she passed away, which also happened to be the eighth anniversary of Dad’s death, I remember climbing into bed with her and placing my arm around her as she lay there during her last moments and drawing her last breaths. At 42 years old, I was like a kid again doing this. I wanted her to know that I was there and that I loved her. I still do.
Tears still come to my eyes and I still miss her. That will never change.
I miss you Grandma. Thank you so much for making such a positive difference in my life. Tomorrow, you will be gone three years and and it still gets hard knowing that I will never again see you in this lifetime. I will miss you until my dying day. However, I take comfort in knowing that you are in a much better place than any of us who are still left on this earth.
I love you, Grandma! I love you to the moon and back and to the ends of the earth! Always!
Frances Bain White Tims. 1931-2013