In memorial

My Grandma Betty died on Sunday. My grandma was the oldest of four children, and survived all her siblings. Her father left her family when she was young, and she helped her mother by working various jobs to help provide for her family. She never went to college, and what she wanted for all of her grandchildren was a college education so that we could have better jobs and easier lives than what she endured.

I went back to St. Louis for the funeral on Tuesday, and got to meet my grandma's best friend. I knew that my grandma had a friend named Thelma that she talked to frequently. What I didn't realize was that she and Thelma shared everything. Thelma knew everything about me and my siblings. When she asked where my sister Lindsey was, and I told her she was interviewing for a job in California, Thelma's face lit up and said that my grandma would have loved to hear that news. She was so proud of Lindsey. She was so proud of all of us.

As I sit here now, I can't write this without breaking down and crying again, so I'll end with one more thought.

Grandma Betty often said to me was also the last thing that she said to me when I saw her in November…"Take care of each other. Be good to each other. Respect each other." I think this world would be a much better place if we all lived these words with everyone.