Ode to Grandma

Considering the glamorous lifestyle described by Pics of Me in Front Stuff it may be hard to believe that Pics of Me in Front of Stuff is really the work of a single person in New Jersey who has a real life.  It's true and about a month ago the real world intruded on the persistent globe trotting described here when the last living grandparent and Official Grandma of Pics of Me in Front of Stuff passed away.  The family congregated in the small town in Central Pennsylvania where she had spent the last of her 87 years on a sunny April day to pay their last respects to her.  These were the Official Thoughts of Pics of Me in Front of Stuff while riding home in the backseat of the Official Mom of Pic's of Me in Front of Stuff's car.  I added the Alan Jackson quote later just because I felt like it fit even if Grandma was never a Small Town Southern Man.

'He said his greatest contribution
Is the ones you leave behind'
- Alan Jackson, Small Town Southern Man

Today was Grandma's funeral and despite consistent grumblings from her children while she was alive, I know they all loved her.  When I was asked about my favorite memory of her nothing specific sprung to mind.  I remember her old house on Museum Road in Reading.  I remember building blocks on her coffee table in her TV room.  Her cookie jar.  The tire swing in her backyard which was hung when my mom and dad were still married over 20 years ago.  I'll never forget the pants suit she wore every time I visited her.  Gray suit and black shirt.  She was buried in that outfit and I do not think there was a single stitch of clothing that could have served as a better choice.
What sticks out in my mind the most about Grandma is what she made.  Aunt Joan started off her eulogy talking about grandma baking cookies and apple pies.  Her meat loaf was legendary.  She was also a wizard with cross-stitch and crocheting.  All 7 of her grandchildren got a blanket when they were born.  I have multiple afghans that she made.  One of my favorite gifts I have ever received is the blanket she made for my 18th birthday.  It was the last one she ever made.  It's a warm and beautiful blanket that I think multiple ex-girlfriends would have considered stealing if I ever dated evil women.  It makes me smile to think of the amount of effort she needed to make that blanket.  But that's how grandma showed her love.  I will not lay claim to having the best grandmother ever.  But like the song says she knew her greatest contribution would be in the ones she left behind and she helped to make a great family.  There are the clear successes of her son Bill, the renowned biologist, and her grandson Mike, the corporate VP of an international manufacturer.  There is the close-knit family of Ted and Joan who have 2 children, one of them Mike above, and 4 grandchildren.  And there is my mom the resilient woman without whom I would not be sitting here right now.  I'd be remiss not to mention all of my cousins but each of them is living a life in their way that they can be proud of.  Her family was her greatest product and the one of which she was most proud.  What we should always remember is that it takes a lot of love to make something great and grandma's love helped to make a great family.

Here's a picture of most of her grandchildren to prove it.

Grandma, We love you.