Life Without Confetti

Everything about school is OVER until August.... I think! These past few weeks have been filled with many emotions and I am so thankful that things are starting to settle down. On top of trying to complete my semester, my grandmother passed away on Friday, April 24th. It was very unexpected and hard to cope with. However, I know that she was there to help me through the end of the school year and allowed me to survive the most stressful semester. It still seems very surreal to me, but makes me aware of how precious life is. She was a great grandmother and had the best cooking ever! She was also very crafty and loved sewing/quilting. Needless to say, she added immensely to my Elvis collection. I loved her so much and I know she loved me, too. I am thankful that I went to visit her and my grandfather the Wednesday before she died. She was sick with a cold, but it seemed like nothing she hasn't bounced back from before. When I called to tell her I was on my way, she asked for me to bring her a Coke icee. She had never before asked for me to bring her anything, so I wanted to please her with her icee. As I was driving out there, I called Katie (my cousin) and asked her to go along for the ride. Something told me to take her with me. When I stopped at the gas station to get her icee, they were out of the Coke kind so I got her the green apple flavor instead. I felt bad that I couldn't get her what she wanted as she sounded pitiful on the phone. Anyway, we drove out to the woods (their house) to see them, but didn't stay long. As we chit-chatted about school and everything else, I remembered looking at her face and thinking how pale she looked. She was also one to tell you how she felt about something, but didn't seem to have the energy to add her input that day. Then, as we were walking towards the door to leave, she insisted on paying me back for the icee. I told her not to worry about and that she could pay me later. That did not suit her so she ended up pulling three dollar bills from her wallet. She began to hand them to me and I told her, "you know where you can put them." Being a crazy family who loves to have a good time, she slipped them into my shirt and said jokingly, "well, you are probably used to that." As she was standing at the door waving bye to us, I remember really imbedding that image into my head. Now, I can't believe that she is no longer here. Tomorrow is Mother's Day and I know that my mom and her brother and sister are going to have a hard time. I cannot imagine not having my mom, but the thing is, my grandmother was like a mom to me, too. I know I will never forget those crazy times together. I am surrounded by her at all times... whether it be a picture, Elvis pillow, or quilt, she's here.This is a picture of Katie, GrandMommie, and me taken at the end of February. Katie and I were posing with her and putting an imphasis on sticking out our chests'. Then when we got ready to take the next picture, she threatened to pull her shirt up. The look on our faces is priceless to that moment. She was that fun-loving grandmother who loved to play along.

About the title, Life Without Confetti: Every birthday, celebration, or thank-you card from GrandMommie was always filled with confetti... the annoying, find a week later on some part of your body, confetti! I miss the confetti...