.: A Tribute To Grandma Ruth

Thursday, August 26, 2010

A Tribute To Grandma Ruth

My beloved Grandma Ruth passed away on Monday. We had her funeral this morning. Even though she was fragile and 90 years old, it's hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that she is gone. My heart is broke. She's all I can think about.

Two years ago she gave me a start of her cockscomb seed that she used to spread in her garden every year. I planted it hoping to have a plethora of them last summer.....nothing. Finally, last month my cockscomb started growing from the seeds I planted 2 summers ago. And this week, the first bloom sprouted. Coincidence, perhaps? How cool is that?But I think it's her way of letting me know she is okay. It made me smile.

my sweetest memory of Grandma Ruth ~

I was always very scared to visit the farm in Oakwood and stay overnight because of the coyotes that would wake me up in the middle of the night howling. But, I always had such a wonderful time there, so I would overlook my fear and enjoy the time I could spend with grandma and grandpa. I would help Grandma pick strawberries, pull weeds, cook, play skip-bo or canasta. She would sit in her patio chair in the front yard and look on with delight as Grandpa would push me in their swing. We spent hours hitting a balloon back and forth to each other in the living room. I was probably 4 or 5 at the time but can remember this memory like it was yesterday. Every night before bed, she would tell me the story of Goldylocks and the 3 bears over and over again until I drifted off to sleep. Grandma was such an inspiration to me and I will never forget our laughs, our talks, our drives and our lunches together.

On Sunday when I went to say goodbye to her, I let her know how incredibly happy I was that she got to meet Conor, see us get married and meet our children. She adored Audrey and even on her hardest days when she wasn't feeling well, her face would light up the minute we walked through the door. She was a wonderful Grandmother to me and I will miss her smiley faced, sticker cards that she gave me every year for my birthday.

She loved and missed Curtis so much, and I feel good knowing she and Grandpa are together again.

~A trip down memory lane~

{Grandma & I~ 1980}

{1982}

{Such a wonderful memory}

{Grandpa Curtis & me}

{This is what we did on cold winter weekends when Grandma & Grandpa came to visit. We would put together puzzles & play skip-bo or canasta}

{Christmas 1983}

{Christmas 05}

{Road Trip to Clinton- 2006}

{1st time meeting Audrey}

For her 90th Birthday in March, I threw her a surprise party. Her brother and sister who live in California flew in to see her. She was beyond shocked and so grateful. It would be the last time she saw them. I'm so thankful she had a wonderful time on her last birthday and her expression when she saw them will be a memory I will hold in my heart forever.