Gloria Joyce Thompson Potts. This is the name of my Grandmother, and the Grandmother I share with 15 other cousins (and with 17 Great Grandchildren, and 2 Great-Great Grandchildren). Sheila, Paul, Valerie, Ron, David, Jamie, Adam, Aaron, Sarah, Kelley, Erica, Craig, Nicole (myself), Matthew, Hunter, and Gianna are aged from 49 to 10. Some of us had more time with her than others. Our Grandma passed away in 2007 from battling Breast Cancer and was the backbone to our family. This year, on September 27, our Grandma would be celebrating her 84th birthday. I contacted my 15 cousins and we all talked about memories, items, smells, foods, traditions, and stories about our beloved Grandma with one another. Here is just a few of the gifts we have been given by our Grandmother that we cherish 10 years later:
Sheila (Oldest Grandchild): Sheila was the Grandchild who made our Grandma "Grandma Potts". Sheila said, "I do know I was fortunate enough to have her the longest. The most important thing I remember about her is that she was literally the most selfless person ever; always rushing around looking after everyone. I love that Grandma always loved me and never judged me. She always forgave me. I remember just before she passed away I went to see her. I just sat on the floor next to her bed for awhile. I didn't want to wake her. I remember feeling so sad that I was going to lose her. She woke up and she asked me what I was doing there. I told her I had just come to visit her, of course not wanting to say that I was there to say good bye. And even lying there dying all she could say was how I shouldn't have driven from so far just to see her. She was always thinking of others, and always worrying about each and every one of us".
Valerie: "Just the absolute fact that she always worried and hovered over everyone and was always wanting to do for others but didn't always feel comfortable taking help from her own family. Grandma was always giving and selfless in all her actions! I also loved how she would speak all her daughters and my sister's name before she got to mine when speaking to me. I also remember how she doted on Grandpa and always made sure he was taken care of. She never left the house without makeup and perfume on, even if she had to put it on in the car! She started Christmas shopping in January because heaven forbid that woman not have a gift for everyone of her family! And you were always being told you shouldn't have wasted your money on her in return!"
Ron: "I used to love it when she would tell ghost stories. One time she was telling them at a campfire in Allegheny (our family camp). Needless to say I didn't sleep well that night! Another thing was the first time I was driving with Grandma in the car she told me, "You know can drive under the speed limit". We used to think the way she worried was kind of funny but now it's kind of endearing because it showed how much she truly loved us all.The candy dish was always full; those little chewy peppermint candies with the Christmas Trees on them still remind me of her. So does the smell of Dove soap. Grandma used to sneak goodies to us too! Mom would say "Don't eat anything at Grandma's, you'll spoil your dinner" (Like that could happen!). As soon as Mom wasn't looking she would give us goodies".
David: " I really don't have much to say that hasn't been said, other than I remember the time down at Allegheny when Grandma asked what I was doing. I responded "Nothing" and she said "Good. Help me drag this couch across the creek". I asked "why?" and she said " I'm going to burn it". Also something most of us remember, she hated dogs. We were down at camp and a dog jumped in the pond and she threw rocks in the water near the dog to scare it away. Well later that day after lunch, I jumped in the pond, and she said "David your swimming in there after a dog was in there! Yuck! You better take a shower when you get out". Pretty much every other memory I share with the rest of my cousins, with the exception that my mom needed to let her know once a week that I didn't die jumping out of Airplanes in the Army. I'm sure there may be more but that's what stands out the most".
Jamie: "She always used to 'lose' her glasses. She'd be looking EVERYWHERE for those things. They'd usually be on top of her head and we wouldn't say anything; just bust out laughing when she did find them, or if someone finally broke down and told her. It never mattered what was going on with her, it didn't matter what kind of pain she was in, the fact that she was in her last couple of days on this Earth, she was ALWAYS thinking of others above herself".
Sarah: "Every time I see a Cardinal I think it's her watching over me. I get one every winter that lands on my fence every few days. I have a love of birds that stemmed from my Dad, which stemmed from her & Grandpa. I remember Snowball. Grandma openly despised him, but secretly worried about him. Honestly, it was like 'her cat' who only came around periodically. When I was younger I always assumed it was hers because he was always around and she always mentioned him. (Snowball was a cat that belonged to one of our Grandma's daughters; Aunt Tammy). Grandma was definitely a worry wart.. to the extent that she would tell you her fear of a situation, then it would happen. For example, she would say "Don't go too close to the water when fishing, because you'll fall in." After she said that you knew you were gonna fall in".
Kelley: " I used to go over to her house on Saturdays and mow the lawn, and afterward she would always make me tea and tell me stories about 'back in the day', and how Grandpa used to court her when they first met, and about her youth. She would always ask me if I was dating anyone, but it was never anyone special enough to bring around. I wish she were alive to meet my little family now. I also can remember her Orange Jello. It was one of my favorites and I can't wait to make it for my own son, Loukas".
Erica: "Friday nights at Grandma's she would always make me popcorn and melt butter and dump it on top. Also Cranberry Juice and Nilla Wafers make me think of her. She always told me where she kept the M&Ms and told me not to tell my Mom. I used to watch Wheel Of Fortune with her and would spend the night at her house and sleep in her Waterbed. I'll never forget the time when she used to babysit me and another girl and we got into her birdseed in her back room. We spread it all over the place. I thought she was going to have a coronary".
Matthew: Matthew was only three at the time when our Grandma passed away. He told me that he remembers "Sitting on the couch and stealing her seat when she would get up. Every time she would move to a different seat, I would steal her spot. Finally, she would pick me up and kiss me and call me a 'little pee pot'."
Nicole: I am not the youngest Grandchild, but was until my brother (Matthew) was born in 2003. From 1994-2003 I was the baby of the cousins. I had a special bond with my Grandma, as all of her Grandchildren did. At the time, my Grandma was my best friend. I grew up spending every Friday night at her house with my cousins Erica and Craig, having dinner at her house and then spending the night there. My Grandma and I bonded over watching the birds outside, always helping her with yard work or in the kitchen, and in the simple things; such as painting our toe nails, watching 'I Love Lucy' reruns, or when she would make me a meal. Grandma used to buy me socks, books, or special food to have at her house "just because". She was very special to me, as she is to all of my cousins. I was lucky enough to take her to Disney World, when I was 5, along with my parents. It was her first time there and mine as well, and I still have the small figurine of Thumper from Bambi that she purchased for herself. Not a day goes by where I don't drink cranberry juice, canned green beans with butter, or chocolate covered graham crackers and not think of her.
Each of us had different relationships, time, and memories with our Grandma. We all miss her and love her dearly. Birds, the smell of Dove soap, Avon catalogs, the color pink, cranberry juice, M & Ms, lipstick (that can also be used as blush), Altoid mints, clip on earrings, pearl necklaces, and night gowns are items that we all take comfort in saying "That reminds me of Grandma". Our Grandmother was caring, selfless, loving, and always worrying about the well being and appetites of everyone around her. Grandma- We miss and love you dearly, but know that you are a part of who we are individually and as a family. We hope you have an amazing 84th birthday in Heaven, and remember you today and all the gifts you blessed us with.
Love,
Your Grandkids
