Mamama

My grandmother would have turned 101 today...I called her Mamama and she was truly one of my most favorite people in all of the world and I was one of hers...

the look on her face is worth a million words...I can still feel her love for me....she was absolutely in my court all of my life..my cheerleader and my support...she was always there for me to lend a shoulder to cry on or to give me a hug...always waiting at the door when I came to visit....and ALWAYS, ALWAYS glad to see me..  how do you replace a love like that?  there is no one that loves like a grandmother..

I love this picture because you can  so plainly see the love on her face towards me...
...and the place I have in her heart...

I miss her all the time...she was everything to me...my friend, my grandmother, my advisor, my confidant...grandmother to my children....family gatherer..my mentor...and my protector......I loved her with all of my heart....and she taught me how to grandmother my own grandchildren...she is my model...I learned so much from her..things that I didn't even realize I was learning....

I learned a lot about gardening and decorating and the arts from my other grandmother but Mamama taught me how to live...how to love...she loved me unconditionally..ALL OF THE TIME..  

One of the last times I saw her she told me my kiss was the best one she had ever had..that was Mamama......and Mama told me after observing me and Mamama..'no wonder she loves you like she does..you are so tender with her'....it was easy to love her...she was so safe....

Now all I have are pictures and memories...but they are so very important.....

I want my grandsons to think of me like I think of her and that only comes about by loving them unconditionally...ALL THE TIME!!..after all, that is what grandmothers do....and I want to do it well.....

Mamama  isn't she beautiful?

so proud of our flocked tree..circa 1959

hahaha  I love it!  we even got all dressed up to decorate the Christmas tree.....yessirree  I was raised to be a true southern belle.....

One of her favorite sayings to me was

"Honey, I have been all along there"

she always wanted me to know she could identify with me.....she would love it that my grandsons call me Honey!
I am glad you came along this morning....what a great day to be alive.....and a great day to be a grandmother......can't wait to see my boys tonight....and make some grandmother memories....

Happy Birthday Mamama and thanks for the memories and especially the love........