My grandma and I were VERY close to one another. My family lived out the street from my grandparents and EVERY weekend, my sister and I would grab out sleeping bags and jammies and head out the block to go and stay over. They lived right across the street from the park, so we always were allowed to go and play and they would watch us while they were sitting on their front porch. We would stay up late playing games with grammy and having a good old time. I would sleep on the loveseat and my sister, the sofa. Next morning pappy would wake up early and surprise us with "sunshine" eggs and bacon for breakfast. Gram and pap would then take us out shopping with them, we would go food shopping, then out to lunch then to the club where we got to be big people and order sodas at the bar! I loved doing these rituals every weekend.

Twice a year, memorial day weekend and labor day weekend, we would all pack our bags and go camping at Mosey Wood in the cabin Blueberry Hill. My sister and I would take walks around the lake and go fishing with our dad and pappy. Grammy would help us gut the fish and lite the sterno cans so we can cook them outside. Saturday mornings, grammy would say the ranger came and "hid" our breakfasts in the trees and we would have to go out and search for it. After breakfast, we would go blueberry picking and then on Sunday morning, we would help grammy make FRESH pancakes for everyone! It was always so much fun with grammy and pappy around.

Unfortunately in 2005, tragedy hit close to home. Grammy got sick and was in the hospital for five months. I drove home from college which was about a hour away, everyday to see her. I loved her so much. I took my puppy to see her and he was a chihuahua so she always knew him as "Taco Bell". Well soon after she was released from the hospital she went to rehab and then was home. All was well, and I was thrilled that she pulled thru! One Friday night, actually it was November 11th of that year, my boyfriend at the time and I were driving across the state, seven hours, to go and see my best friend at college for the weekend. I called my father when we were about thirty minutes away and he asked if I was driving. Of course I was not at the time, then he said he needed to talk to me. Well, my first reaction was, "Oh what did I do wrong?" He said I hate to tell you but your grammy passed away today. He told me the time, I freaked out. My dad was allergic to my pup so I had to get rid of him. I had moved back home after college. Well, about five minutes before she died, a girl came to pick up Duke, she adopted him from me. The same time she passed, my heart flopped, but I thought nothing of it. A few other weird things happened too, but it was scary. I was devastated! I drank that weekend away. It took a long time to finally start to feel better after her death, but time heals most wounds.

I learned so much from my grammy and I hope to be able to pass that on to my daughter one day. I learn to never take life for granted and to live it to the fullest. If you want to skydive, go ahead, so what if the chute does not open, it was meant to happen, at least you were not locked up in a shack because you were too afraid to take risks! I even learned to appreciate the small things in life and I learned to love everyone, even those who do no good. Do not ever forget what your elders teach you, hold on to it forever and never take life for granted!

I admire her because she taught me how to love and have fun. She taught me that life is too short so do not hold any or few grudges. This woman was my world and now I hope that I show my daughter everything my grammy has shown me and she can grow to appreciate it just as much!

Learn more about this author, Danielle B.
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