Monday my Dad's Mom passed away.
She made the BEST rolls, EVER!!! No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't reproduce them, because there was NO recipe!! A "smidgen" of this, a "goosh" of that until it "feels" right. I was always excited the first day of their visits to CA because I knew there would be hot rolls when I got home from school. She usually had to make more than one batch during a visit.
Grandma and Grandpa always had cars with bench seats in the front. When they drove somewhere, Grandma would sit in the middle, right next to Grandpa. If a third person was traveling with them, they were expected to sit in the front as well.
When they dropped me off at the airport while I was at school, she was always afraid we were going to be late, so we left for the airport at least 2 hours early (they only lived 30 minutes away from the airport). Whenever they picked me up from the airport Grandma would be waiting by the baggage claim while Grandpa would be circling the airport. I have no idea how early they were there to pick me up, but I am guessing it was probably before I even left CA.
The first thing they did when they arrived in CA was go buy 4 gallons of milk. We NEVER had enough milk in the house.
I only drove to CA with them once. I was allowed to help drive on the way down, but because I went over the speed limit, I wasn't allowed to help drive back.
Breakfast at their house was a huge affair. Entire loaves of bread were toasted. Juice AND milk. Cereal AND eggs AND sausage AND fruit... etc... She kept sugar cereal in the cupboard for us. The same box lasted for years because we were the only ones allowed to eat it and we only went to UT once a year.
Grandma made amazing Barbie clothes for all of our Barbies. She was a great seamstress.
She crocheted hot pads and embroidered kitchen towels for us.
I remember getting a coconut in the mail when they served their mission in Hawaii. The coconut was addressed and stamped, no extra packaging required.
She was always welcoming of my friends and roommates when we came to visit.
She had a great supply of Harlequin romance novels tucked into her nightstand.
There were peanut M&Ms and soda crackers in every room of the house.
She didn't care that we slid down the very steep basement stairs on sleeping bags.
When it unexpectedly snowed, she tied plastic bags around our hands and shoes so we could go play in the snow.
She has attended every wedding, baptism, graduation and ordination, even some school events that were important to us. They were able to spend many Christmases with us. They rarely flew... they always drove.
When apple juice was on sale, she always stocked up... it was usually on sale due to a close expiration date, but that didn't matter months later...
I never saw her in jeans, or even casual pants.
I am grateful for my knowledge of eternal families and that she is happy where she is and we will see her again.
Nora and her teacher, Mrs. Reingrover.
Nora and her award. My camera made every picture dark and fuzzy except this one. Maybe it is time to upgrade the camera.
Nora with her principal.
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