Wow! It's amazing how someone so special to my family and I could truly impact ALL of our lives at the same time in the positive ways that you did. I swear that I cannot think of a single person who was so giving and caring towards everyone and I promise to continue making you proud, Auntie. Below, I've left a few of the countless memories we've shared and the ways you've impacted the family. I hope this makes you smile and laugh in Heaven because you've kept us together for all of these years.
1. Your Amazing Smile
Your smile made the room light up, no matter the mood, because we always knew that you were going to enlighten us with a truth, or humor us with a joke, or even make us feel appreciated when we were at our lowest.
2. Your Humor
We loved your humor so much because you were, by far, one of the most honest people that all of us had ever known. From your stories about our parents and grandparents to your views on politics and life's daily struggles, you kept the mood easy-going with your candid truths.
3. Your Grits
You truly had the gift of cooking, as my love for cheese grits came directly from you. I did not understand the importance of cheese grits until you made me my first batch. You would shred the sharp cheddar cheese perfectly as the grits cooked on the stove. Afterwards, you would pour grits onto the plate, and spread the cheese around, and I would watch it melt so beautifully. I loved it even more when the grits were thicker because you knew I didn't like soupy grits. You caught me slipping many times because I would think that I could eat all of the grits only to learn that I would catch the 'Itis' shortly after one serving. I thank you so much for your grits.
4. Your cooking (In General)
Although my personal favorite was cheese grits, your skill in the kitchen was paralleled by no one. You truly threw down in the kitchen and I know all of us appreciated you for that. Sometimes, we would come over and not even know that you were cooking but that would allow us another opportunity to talk to you as you cooked the meal of the day.
5. Spending The Night Over Your House
Your house is where many of us learned the rule about street lights. For those who are unfamiliar with that rule, or never had it, the rule was that as children, when we played outside, we would have to be back in the house by the time the street lights came on. If not, there would be consequences for breaking the rules that were given to us. I promise we appreciated you for showing us discipline, along with our parents, and not just allowing us to run over you. Cousin Justin and I shared countless memories playing different games at your house and just living out our youth. My brother Patrick and I shared even more memories at your home, especially when we played with the neighborhood kids in Thomas. Spending the night over your house was our way of taking a vacation away from life's troubling circumstances. Thank you for opening up your home to us. We truly appreciated it. And yes, the meme says "grandma house" but this was us over your house and our grandmother's house. LOL
6. Matlock
I swear every time we spent the night over your house, somehow this show is what we would wake up to. It was hilarious because one of the main reasons that prompted me to become a lawyer was inspired through this show. That being said, you had a lot to do with my career path, and for that, I thank you.
7. The Andy Griffith Show
This was also one of the shows we'd always watch as we spent the night. Another legal show, but on a more comedic scale, this show had its highs and lows, and as children, we only understand what we could understand. That being said, this was still one of the more interesting shows we would watch together.
8. The Price Is Right
From Bob Barker to Drew Carey, this show was hilarious because of the hosts and reactions of the participants on the show. We would watch and I would love hearing your correct predictions of the prices of the items on the show. I learned how to be frugal with my money and pay attention to every single cent of it from you. This show gave made life a little easier knowing that when we did make a little extra money that we could make it last a little longer.
9. All My Children
This show was full of drama and great acting, and provided us with different issues that we could possibly encounter in life as we progressed through our youth. As a child, I could not get into it but I knew that this was one of your favorite drama TV series to watch, and we'd enjoy your company as you watched it.
10. Walker Texas Ranger
By far one of the most popular shows I've ever seen, this, in my opinion, was your favorite TV show to watch. You made us love to watch this show as Walker (Chuck Norris) would fight for justice in his city, and some of us would hope to learn the same martial arts techniques that were displayed on the show. You would always tell us, "Walker was a BAADD man!" Thank you so much for these shows and for helping us to appreciate the simple things in life.
11. Playing Card Games
I learned the significance of the card game, Solitaire, from watching you play a million times as we grew up. You were the Queen of it, and it seemed like you'd beat your record and become quicker every single time you played. This game kept me company as I got older and learned life's different trials.
12. Your backyard
Your backyard provided us so much space for creativity and we definitely used it. You would be cooking in the house as we'd play in the backyard several different games. Sometimes, I would leave your house to go to Grandma's house and then come back, and it was such a blessing to have that flexibility to see two of the most important people in my life, only seconds apart from each other. There were several times we'd be playing and get in trouble for running into your clothing drying line.
13. Your stories
You had some of the best stories in the world, and you would entertain us so much from different things. One of my personal favorites was from hearing you discuss Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to hearing you talk about Former President Bill Clinton to hearing about your emotions around the election of President Barack Obama. Your views carved a map of moral justice in our hearts, as we would strive to do right, not only by you and our parents, but by ourselves and others, as well.
14. Grocery Shopping With You
Grocery shopping with you was one of the highlights of our out-of-home experiences. We would spend so much time in the grocery stores getting the things necessary for life and as kids, we would be beyond tired of being there but you handled your business as only you could. As we got older, it was a pleasure to go to the store for you and to help you with anything that we could help you with.
15. Your Compassionate Heart Towards Everyone
You may not have agreed with the views of every single person that you encountered, but you were always kind and giving of whatever you had, and for that, I say thank you. Whether it's a monetary donation, a graduation gift, or just a simple 'I love you', you truly showed me what it was to care for everyone, no matter what.
16. Your Age
You were the oldest living family member for us, so you were definitely our matriarch, and we knew that if we needed any type of advice, you were there for us. You wisdom was unparalleled, to say the least, and although you were not perfect, you always did your best to say and do what you felt was best for all of us. We thank you for that.
17. Your Love
You displayed love more than anything else and I cannot honestly speak to the expression of love that you showed to the blood relatives, as well as the in-laws. We thank you so much for loving us and we hope that you felt our love as well.
18. We
19. Love
20. You
Thank you so much for loving us and although we know that you are no longer suffering, we are praying that we can continue making you smile through our daily actions. We love you Auntie, and thank you for the impact that you've made on our lives and for those around you. We were so blessed and fortunate to not only have Mama Doll, but to have her beautiful daughter in our lives as well. I've posted a song below to dedicate to you and I know that you would love its message. Thank you so much and I love you!
