Grandma Claire
1.09.2011 by Colee
Today's post is even more self- serving than most. I have been trying to put some thoughts together for my Grandma's tribute so I figure here is a good place to put them.
To all of you who have left kind words, offered prayers in our behalf, or are sending loving thoughts to the universe in our direction, thank you.
Grandma Claire had a profound love of people. She had a way of learning only the good things about people. Looking back, she may have known the less than good things but she never told anyone.
Grandma loved nature. She spent as much time outside as possible. She enjoyed her garden and the things she could grow and share with others. Grandpa told me that when he took Claire fishing with him, he didn't need a fish finder. She just had the gift. I know she missed it because in the past few years she was frequently craving fish. I'm not sure the halibut and fries from the Purple Turtle was really what she was looking for, but she seemed to appreciate the effort.
Grandma was a beautiful artist. Many of her family have had the opportunity to beautify their homes with her oil paintings. Our beds are covered with her afghans and doilies. She was also an artist with words. She didn't make up stories, she didn't need to. Her life was full of enough material to fill a library. She loved to tell stories of her travels, of her family, of her youth.
Some of my favorite were her stories about the things she did growing up. Growing up in Georgetown, playing down by the river, climbing to the top of the high school, the people she "ran around with." These stories allowed me to see her as a girl much like myself and remembering the time I have spent with her gives me hope that I might turn out alright after all.
Grandma loved to travel. Honestly, I think she enjoyed meeting new people as much or more than the new experiences she would have and sites she would see. We loved it when she traveled as well. She brought home pictures and stories and of course, presents. As I have had the opportunity to start traveling a little, Grandma would always ask me where I had been, what did I learn and see, and where was I going next.
Grandma was always learning. She loved to tell us about how she was skipped ahead in school and how they would have kept moving her, but mama and papa wouldn't let her get ahead of her sister. School was just part of the learning experience. She read everything. Her back room is full of the books she hadn't given to someone else to read after she finished. She enjoyed watching documentaries. But of course her favorite way to learn was living. She questioned everything.
Grandma had a great sense of humor. In Pleasant Grove there is a hill much like our M hill. Theirs has a G on it. When I asked why, she told me it was just called Grove, until she moved there.
Most of all, Grandma loved her family. In her eyes, we could do no wrong. We are all perfect students, perfect children, amazing people, and all the joy one life could hold.
To all of you who have left kind words, offered prayers in our behalf, or are sending loving thoughts to the universe in our direction, thank you.
Grandma Claire had a profound love of people. She had a way of learning only the good things about people. Looking back, she may have known the less than good things but she never told anyone.
Grandma loved nature. She spent as much time outside as possible. She enjoyed her garden and the things she could grow and share with others. Grandpa told me that when he took Claire fishing with him, he didn't need a fish finder. She just had the gift. I know she missed it because in the past few years she was frequently craving fish. I'm not sure the halibut and fries from the Purple Turtle was really what she was looking for, but she seemed to appreciate the effort.
Grandma was a beautiful artist. Many of her family have had the opportunity to beautify their homes with her oil paintings. Our beds are covered with her afghans and doilies. She was also an artist with words. She didn't make up stories, she didn't need to. Her life was full of enough material to fill a library. She loved to tell stories of her travels, of her family, of her youth.
Some of my favorite were her stories about the things she did growing up. Growing up in Georgetown, playing down by the river, climbing to the top of the high school, the people she "ran around with." These stories allowed me to see her as a girl much like myself and remembering the time I have spent with her gives me hope that I might turn out alright after all.
Grandma loved to travel. Honestly, I think she enjoyed meeting new people as much or more than the new experiences she would have and sites she would see. We loved it when she traveled as well. She brought home pictures and stories and of course, presents. As I have had the opportunity to start traveling a little, Grandma would always ask me where I had been, what did I learn and see, and where was I going next.
Grandma was always learning. She loved to tell us about how she was skipped ahead in school and how they would have kept moving her, but mama and papa wouldn't let her get ahead of her sister. School was just part of the learning experience. She read everything. Her back room is full of the books she hadn't given to someone else to read after she finished. She enjoyed watching documentaries. But of course her favorite way to learn was living. She questioned everything.
Grandma had a great sense of humor. In Pleasant Grove there is a hill much like our M hill. Theirs has a G on it. When I asked why, she told me it was just called Grove, until she moved there.
Most of all, Grandma loved her family. In her eyes, we could do no wrong. We are all perfect students, perfect children, amazing people, and all the joy one life could hold.
