In my closet, hanging on the doorknob is an old cardigan sweater. Almost every night during the cold winter months I come home from work, change into comfy pants, grab my old cardigan and settle in for a comfortable evening at home. This particular sweater is more than 10 years old, looks pretty ratty, but wraps in the comfort of memories of my Grandma Ryerson.
When my grandma passed away, it was a cold, winter day. I had to go shopping to find something to wear to the funeral and found a beautiful dress. Of course, being a female and unable to resist a good sale, I also purchased a new pair of dress slacks and a cardigan sweater. The day of the funeral dawned clear and cold - bitterly cold. With windchills nearly -30 degrees, I was torn on what to wear. It was then I tried to think what grandma would want. She herself was not one to 'dress up' frequently and always opted for the comfort of casual wear, I decided to wear the new sweater and be warm. After all, I was sure she wouldn't want me to freeze. THIS is the sweater that hangs in the closet to this very day.
One evening a few weeks ago I brought home a bag of Dilly Bars from the local Dairy Queen. After supper I put on my old cardigan, grabbed a Dilly Bar from the freezer and settled in for the evening. I couldn't help but remember my grandma's words as I was enjoying my dessert and it just brought a smile to my face.
In the last few years of her life, she lived with my mom in Kentucky. Whenever we would be there for a visit, we would always make a trip to town to our errands and have some shopping fun. Grandma always offered to buy, even before we would leave the driveway - it was her 'hint' that she wanted to hit the DQ at some point. Inevitably, while enjoy our frosty treats she would proclaim, "Delicious and nutritious but it won't make me ambitious!" Every time, without fail, she uttered these words that still echo in my mind today. In fact, I have even caught myself saying these very words and then I can only laugh and think I've turned into my grandma!
My Grandma Ryerson was an extraordinary woman who worked incredibly hard all of her life and would give everything she had to care for her family or anyone in need. I have lots of great memories of her:
* fresh picked asparagus
* pony rides in the buggy
* toast with peanut butter when we were sick
* her green car with no power steering
* her little red truck and cold sandwiches for a long trip
* her amazing spunk and determination
* the horse lamp on her old desk
* a freezer full of goodies from the Schwann's man
* her diminutive size with a heart as big as the world and made of gold.
The memories that we make with our grandparents are precious and valuable. My children are very blessed that they have created and maintained strong bonds with their grandparents. The memories they make will bring smiles to their hearts and faces for many years to come.
I'm not sure my sweater will last that long, but I look forward to the day when I can see grandma again and I hope there are Dilly Bars in heaven.
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