The phone rang and time stood still as news I had hoped would never come was delivered. I was in complete and utter shock. This could not be true. How could you really be gone? Next came the tears, the denial, and the frustration. There must be a mistake, the doctors couldn’t have done the tests correctly. Maybe this was a terrible practical joke and I was about to be given the punchline and everything would return to normal. But, in all reality, I had to accept that you had passed away. Now that the pain is beginning to diminish, I am starting to realize that you will never really be gone though. You were the grandmother that I never had. You loved me even though you didn’t have to. Your love and your memories will forever live on through me.

I will remember learning how to make corn and tomato soup with the freshly picked vegetables that you drove seven hours to get because you wanted to make the best food possible for all of your guests.

I will remember losing to you every single time we played Yahtzee and your ability to calculate scores quicker than the best mathematician.

I will remember never leaving your house remotely hungry, usually with five extra pounds around my waist filled with your delicious cooking.

I will remember your stories about driving race cars with your brother, raising four boys while your husband was in the Vietnam War and growing up in a tin roofed house in the Deep South.

I will remember the love you gave to everyone and anyone, even solicitors who you gave apples and peanut butter to without question.

I will remember your advice about boys and your ability to spot a heartbreaker in the blink of an eye. I wish that I had listened more carefully to that keen ability of yours.

Most of all, I will remember you. Your contagious laughter, your smile that brightened a room, your warm hugs and your eagerness to tell me you loved me whenever possible. I will remember your excitement and zeal for life up until your last breath. I will never forget your beauty and the amazing talent you had at inspiring other people.

I miss you with my entire heart, but you will never be forgotten.