

I lost my grandmother on Sunday. She was my Danny and I was her Budgie. I loved her and my did she ever love me. I don't think there was anyone she met that didn't know that.
Christian and I were truly her heart. Her love was unconditional. She was so proud of us. Each time we'd talk she'd say, "Ok, now tell me about your job
one more time. I want to be sure I told the man at Rouses' (and the lady at the doctor's office and the postman and my neighbor and Ms. Phyllis...you remember Ms. Phyllis, don't you?) right."
She always told me I was beautiful and made over my curls and eyelashes. Really, I can't think of a time she laid eyes on me that she didn't tell me I was pretty even though I knew she was cringing inside over my straightened hair. She was proud that I had "snagged" such a loving husband and wanted to make sure I cooked enough to keep him. And was she ever proud that I had birthed the most beautiful baby ever, with a "perfect, tiny face and lips." I am so thankful that she was able to see me as a mother and meet her great grandson, another Budgie. There just is not enough time.
I have a lifetime of memories with her. I never grew tired hearing her tell the story of seeing me in the hospital and hearing my petite cry, only to make myself really known once we got home. One of the memories that I have been coming back to over and over these last few days is snuggling in the big bed with the giant jar of animal crackers between us, listening to her tell the story of Rumpelstiltskin over and over and over. "Is your name....Erin? No! No! No! Hmmmm. Oh, I know, is it Christian? No! No! No!" Freddie will know Rumplestiltskin. I hope I can tell it like she did. I want to cook the way she did, play cards the way she did, garden the way she did, dream of traveling the way she did, love the way she did. I have certainly been shown how.
I'm sorry I didn't get to say goodbye and she didn't get that last kiss from Freddie.
I just wish I could kiss him right now. I love you. Kiss him for me. I love you. I love you, Danny. Thank you for loving me.