Let me tell you about my "adopted" Grandma. I'm not sure who adopted whom, but I've never met a more special person in my life.
We moved into this house Sept of 1993 - Andrew was just 10 months old. Our plan was to be here a few years and then move out of IPS district before he started school. Those plans changed the minute we met our neighbor whom everyone in the neighborhood called Grandma Irma. She had been a widow at that time for about 15 years. She was in her early 80's then and so full of life! She loved everybody - no matter what and she was always encouraging people. She would stand up for the underdog every time. She loved animals - birds, cats, squirrels, dogs...you name it! There must have been a sign somewhere for stray cats that they would have a long happy loved life at G'ma Irma's house! She loved Andrew as if he were her own grandchild. I don't have many pictures of her, but we found a video tape the other day of Andrew (he was about 5 or 6) and Grandma Irma sitting out in her back yard, each in their own chair with a TV tray in front of Andrew with cheese chunks, town house crackers and orange juice (that was her typical snack she would make for Andrew). She would always talk "with" him and not "to" him. She would spend time with him every single time he went over or if she saw him out back. She taught him games she played growing up - including a neat one that she pulled down from her attic just for him!
Here are a few of my favorite memories of her:
- Andrew (probably 5 or so) was in trouble at home for something - and grounded to his room. I went over to visit her and we were discussing this. She told me in no uncertain terms that as his lawyer, she felt his punishment was unfair. Unfortunately, since I was the judge, she was overruled!
- Another memory was, again, about Andrew being grounded - this time from the TV. He asked to go visit G'ma Irma which was always fine with us. Next thing I know, I'm looking out his bedroom window and into her dining room and there is Andrew sitting in her favorite chair with a TV tray in front of him and yes, you guessed it, watching cartoons and eating cheese chunks, town house crackers and orange juice! Let's just say he only got away with that once! That I know of anyhow...
- A special treat for us was on Sundays. One of the local colleges would play Polka music on the radio about noon each week. She would turn it up so loud that if you were in Andrew's room, or out front/back you could listen to it too!
- She loved to tell us of when she was a kid. Just to sit and listen was an honor.
- She loved cherry tomatoes, Arby's Big Montana sandwiches and banana nut bread! And BOY did she have a sweet tooth! I LOVED baking something and taking it over there just as soon as it was out of the oven.
- I remember her buying extra bread in the winter and cutting it up, pouring melted margarine on it and toasting it for the squirrels and birds. She used to feed Andrew's bunny everyday like clockwork weather permitting.
Her heart was soft, her mind quick and her friendship genuine. She was passionate about standing up for what was right and in taking care of people (and animals too!) I can honestly say that I am a better person for knowing her. She has blessed my life in so many wonderful ways. If I could only be as wise, tenderhearted and genuine as her. She never had a bad word to say about anyone -even if they had wronged her. She had many obstacles to overcome during her life, but she overcame them, learned from them and literally changed the world for the better. Every life she came in contact with was changed for the better.
G'ma Irma died July of 2007 - at the age of 95. I lost my mom 9 months prior and my mother-in-law 3 months after I lost my mom. I lost the 3 most important women in my life in a matter of 9 months. Each woman has helped to encourage, mold and teach me in a different way. And I pray that I am able to live up to the example of each one of them.
Who in your life has impacted you? Tell them now, like the song says, in The Living Years.
Father God, I thank You for the people you have put into my life for a reason, a season and a lifetime. Thank You for the friendship, the love and the lessons that I've been blessed to share with each of these people. Help me to learn to share with them now what they mean to me and not wait until it is too late.
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