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Grandma

This past week my grandma passed away.  We will all miss her smiles and way to bring order to a room and I thought I would share a few memories of her.

Grandma was always taking care of us.  She had a tradition to make birthday cakes for everyone in the family, including her kids and grandkids.  She made my birthday cake every year up until a couple years ago.  She would make whatever you requested, but I was in love with Angel Food so that was always my choice.  As you can imagine, as the family grew, so did Grandma's baking schedule.  Even when we went off to college she would pack up the cake in popcorn and mail our cakes to us.  (I enjoyed the popcorn too, even though she said not to eat it because it was stale...she also had high standards.)  And, oh man, when she would send her random, no occasion goody boxes while I was at college I would hide them and try to make the treats last as long as possible, always returning containers (often oatmeal tubes) for refills.

Growing up I'd sometimes end up at Grandma's when I was sick during the week.  She would lay down a soft sheet on her couch and turn on Shirley Temple movies.

I loved when I would catch her on the phone at a good time and she would share stories of growing up.  

We talked about her philosophies on raising kids.  Just as I sat there on her couch visiting.  She was never too busy to sit down for a visit or if she was in the middle of baking she'd have me help.  And I learned a lot in those little lessons.  She was a pro.  

One of the last times I visited her in the hospital, she yelled, "Bye" in her unique way as I closed the door.  That's something I always hope to remember.  Luckily, sometimes, my dad will say bye the exact same way she did.

And I'll never understand how she ALWAYS had cookies in the cookie jar.

Thanks for reading.  Give your loved ones a little extra hug.

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