The Women in My Life: Part ONE

Mother's day is coming.  I have been thinking about how I would like to tell you all about the wonderful women in my life.  The women who have passed down the gifts of their knowledge, compassion, humor and diligence.  Without these women....well, without them, I cannot even begin to picture how my life would have turned out.  I am SO PROUD to tell you about them.  FIRST, my mother's mother, Jacqueline.

My grandma Jackie was raised by her mother, Goldie.  Single-handedly.  In the 1930's.  Not a typical story of that era, but great grandma knew when to kick her let-down of a husband to the curb.  (We gals don't take any *ahem* poo-poo.) I'm not sure, but it seems that perhaps this is where the independent, hard-working, do-it-yourself attitude may have originated...

As a result, my grandma Jackie could do ANYTHING.  Raise two fantastic daughters, teach home economics, paint a house, landscape and maintain a successful 1/4 acre yard from scratch, paint dramatic and gorgeous scenes, carve a life-like character from a scrap of would, or re-furbish ANY piece of furniture.  She was fun.  And funny. 

Grandma often had this funny little habit of garbling up what she was saying.  "Honey, could you pass me the peajutlubterwixles?"  (the peanut butter Twix...have I mentioned that she had a love of all things peanut butter?)  Best of all, she handed this down to me (peanut butter AND garbling your words).  One time we had an entire give and take in "garble talk."  We understood everything the other was saying and then ended up laughing until we cried because we were both so tongue-tied!  

There are so SO many things I have from her that make me, "ME."  Every time I attempt a DIY of daunting magnitude, she is with  me and I know I can succeed.  Every time I garble my speech, it rolls off my back and I have a chuckle.  AND, every time I eat ANTYHING peanut butter, I enjoy it just that little bit more.

I love you and miss you EVERY DAY, Grandma.  I hope you are proud of me.  I am so proud to be your granddaughter.

***Grandma Jackie is the pretty gal with the bright white hair in this old picture from around 2001***