I get too tied up in material things. I'm a big pack rat. So many things people have given me over the years I keep for the sentimental value of getting that item. Last night, I came across such an item.
I've always valued so much the gifts of my grandparents. My grandmother Ruth, whom we called Momo, was a divorced mother of two who worked in the local television advertising business. She smoked and drank, but she was an incredible woman
. She had red hair, drove her cool yellow Volkswagon Beetle, and considered me her Capricorn grandaughter. I hate to say I was her favorite, but with all the time I spent with her, I was at least one of her favorites.
I grew up the first 18 years of my life blessed to not have experienced the loss of a loved one. Her ex-husband, Robert, died before I was born. My Momo was the first person really close to me that died. I was devastated when I heard (I was the first in the family to find out - the doctor couldn't get ahold of my mom). I remember telling my dad, and when my mom came home, him telling her, and all of us hugging.
My other grandfather, Ed (aka Grampa) died just a few years ago, right after Thanksgiving 2005. He was the last of my grandparents and we had also spent a lot of time with him. I guess I'm glad he died after Thanksgiving, as I was in town and able to see him while he was still concious (they gave him a lot of pain medication when they knew they couldn't do anything for him). He was a mechanic, very talkative, and a cute old man (although being an Arkie, he could have a mouth on him).
My grandmother Eula B (not Eula B.), aka Gramma, died while on a trip to visit her sister in Arkansas. It was such a surreal time when we heard of her death. I guess you can say her death was the most unexpected, as there were warning signs for everyone else (except Grandpa Robert, I believe - but then again, I wasn't born yet).
I am forever greatful for all that they've given me. Of course most importantly, they basically gave me life by giving my parents life. But I still remember Momo taking me around the TV stations, where I got cool stuff from different stations, like my CHiPs picture of Ponch and John, my Scooby Doo pictures, and more. I remember my Gramma always making sure she had plenty of pumpkin pie around Thanksgiving for me and always having a lot of food at family gatherings.
So, last night as I was getting ready for bed, I came across a pillow my Gramma made me years ago. It's a small pillow with a kitty on one side and a cat on the other. (Pictures are below, although I'm not sure why it keeps changing the orientation of the images). It's not a spectacular, bright pillow, and by now the blue-green images of the cats are fading, but I loved that pillow growing up. I thought last night of how little money my grandparents had, but how they made sure their many grandchildren knew they were loved. I count this pillow and a blue blanket Gramma gave me as some of my most prized possessions.
I also remember the $20 bills my Grampa would give me for my birthday or Christmas all the time. I knew that amount was a lot for my Grampa, and there's no way he could have afforded to give that much to all of his grandkids, so I always felt so special getting that $20 bill, to the point that I wouldn't spend it until I found something I really felt was worth buying. Sometimes I had the bill for months, as the gift of the $20 was worth far more than anything I could buy. I don't recall what I bought each time with my $20 bill. It's not important. It's more important to me to know of the thoughts of the gifts they gave me, especially as my dad's parents had so little money throughout their lives. I'm greatful for the gift of a pillow, some time with my Momo, and a $20 bill. I look forward to seeing all four of my grandparents again someday.
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