I am not sure if it is as I get older and realize how special the times were we had together or if it is because I am trying to begin the same traditions in my own family.
Together my grandparents were world travelers, Shriners, drinkers, and the life of the party.
The women still love Poppa with his harmonica in hand, he could easily have a new lady, but he chooses to cherish my grandmother and all her Pizazz.
She sure was a lady, my grandmother.
Her smile lit up the room and Poppa's musicality is one to envy.
They were the best together and the times we had were crazy, fun, and completely educational.
We learned:
How to snap green beans.
How to label our toothbrushes
Cereal is the Breakfast of champions
Pineapple calendars are the best
Always keep Coca-Cola in the fridge for a hangover
How to throw the best "tea party"
That Poppa naps after every meal, you must be quiet during this time
Always keep a AAA trash bag in the car for your "candy wrappers"
How to plan your meals two weeks in advance
How to read a Trip-Tik (do these even exist anymore?)
What trees are safe enough to climb and how not to get caught climbing the one's you're not supposed to climb
That Bush Light beer is good, or it's really cheap, either way it was always in the fridge (I'll have to ask Poppa about this)
To Always have two types of tea in the fridge- Sweet and UnSweetened or is it "really sweet" and "sort of sweet"?
Not to make the rocking chair bounce or the china cabinet will shake (oops, I did this a lot!)
That peanuts are a great snack especially the Planter's Honey Roasted!
That Lifetime movies Rock! and that WWE and WWF Wrestling is fake! (I almost cried when I found this out! haha!)
Keep the AC on high while traveling on road trips to help you stay awake, what? ( I was always FREEZING! I blame Poppa!)
That it's ok if you don't know anyone at your family reunion. You're family, so go give everyone a hug even if you don't know
them (this can be a bit odd for a 10 year old)
To treat your travel camper as if it is your home, still have "tea parties" every night and make your bed.
To sweep your outside rug under the awning of the camper. What? (It's outside it's ok if a piece of pine straw hits it, nope! Grandmother treated it like it was inside. Must sweep whenever one is bored.)
To always look busy while camping, so you do not have to do the above task. ;-)
To always have on lipstick and mascara no matter what! You never know when an unexpected guest may arrive.
That Avon boxes make great travel companions for covered dishes, so they won't spill. (Just the other night, I was wishing I had one to transport two dishes to a dinner party)
Avon apparently is the best product for no wrinkles. (I am pretty sure Grandmother had no wrinkles they day she passed, she was beautiful.)
That you must always have bubbles when you take a bath and of course they must be Avon brand!
I could go on and on.
I feel so great just writing all of this down.
We have learned so many things from her.
Momma, Aunt Debbie, Lisa, Amy, and I even though we are each a bit different we all share the most wonderful woman in the world.
She taught us how to value and cherish every thing you have no matter how much it cost, keep a nice house, and to always welcome guests.
Sound familiar?
I'm pretty sure each of us live by her rules, since we all love to entertain.
She was the best. I can't even explain it.
I decided to create a playlist of songs that remind me of her.
Each song has its own special meaning and memory behind it.Rolling In My Sweet Baby's Arms Doc Watson and David Holt
On the Road Again Willie Nelson
Good Hearted Woman (feat. Willie Nelson) [Live] Waylon Jennings
Georgia On My Mind Willie Nelson
Crazy Patsy Cline
Always On My Mind Willie Nelson
I Love You Truely Sammy Kayne
Amazing Grace LeAnn Rimes
Bridge Over Troubled Water Aaron Neville
Come Up And See Me Sometime Mae West
I Believe In Santa Claus Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton
Do you have a playlist for your grandparents?
Music is my muse, so I am glad I created this so I can listen to it whenever I want to think of Grandmother and Poppa.
Grandparents are just the best and I hope one day I have a granddaughter blogging about how special her Khak was.
To family,
KHAK
What a sweet post. The playlist is spectacular. What a great idea.
ReplyDeleteThank you... I would love a copy of your play list. I sure do miss tea parties (we need to have one the next time we are all together) and bouncing in the blue chair ( which is in my shed.. I really need to recover it) Then we could all bounce and make the china cabinet shake. Man did she yell at us. HAHA I can even remember getting yelled at for eating gum drops off the gum ball tree at Christmas. We couldn't take them off the tree. Instead had to get some from in the cabinet. She didn't want to have to refill for guest. She was hilarous!!! I miss and love her so much.
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