A Dedication

Grandma Louise in Style

Today I was supposed to either write about a blogger friend I loved, or write about someone else in my life that I love. I chose the latter since I am still working on making blogger friends. When I gave birth to the idea for this blog, I knew I wanted to dedicate it to my dear grandmother, Louise, and I have had this post in mind since then.

At the Beach

Grandma Louise was always near and dear to me. She was my fun Grandma, the one who would pull out her Quaker Oats container full of crayons and color with me. She loved spending time with her kids and grandkids, and I remember going to the beach with her when we lived near Lake Michigan, and going to the Cleveland Zoo one year when we visited her in Ohio. This was a woman so full of love and life that it shone brightly out through her pores.

Grandma and me at the beach on Lake Michigan

I was, according to some of my extended family, a spoiled brat of a child, but I never got that impression from Grandma Louise. She treated me just as lovingly as each of her other grandchildren. This meant so much to me growing up, and even more now. I don't remember when I started, but Grandma Louise and I corresponded by mail at least throughout my college career until her passing. I loved getting a letter from her in the mail, often talking about the cats, my cousins, or various family members' health concerns. I felt love from every single letter. I miss those letters, but I am so glad that I have kept every one.

Check out that swimsuit!

Grandma Louise had personality and charisma. She loved to laugh, and she was never one for taking things too seriously. She was as authentic as they come, never one to tolerate a phony or flake. In this way, my sister and I take after her (my sister, more so). She tended to wear scarves on her head outdoors, and her nails were always painted (I recall a metallic color). She died her hair auburn and kept it curly, and she tended to wear scarves on her head when she went outdoors. She was stylish in her own way.

As a Young Woman

One of the hardest things I have dealt with in life was her death. She died of cancer on January 3, 2006. She had been sick for awhile, but none of us was prepared for how swiftly her death came. No one was ready to let her go. She was the glue of the family, keeping everyone informed, and bringing the family together for occasions. Whenever we would visit, she was lively and engaging. And boy could she laugh, nay, cackle. Sometimes when I cackle, I hear her and it nearly startles me. That laugh was the meaning of fun.

Grandma Louise and Boris, one of many beloved cats

I do believe that Grandma Louise is watching over me, and I feel she would be proud of this endeavor. I hope to make her proud with what I do here, and for that, I am dedicating this blog to her- the amazing woman who showed me that the only important thing in life is to love

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