Mary Sue

    Today my Grammy Sue passed away.  Many of you who are kind enough to be reading this would have known her.  And if you knew her then you liked her...a lot, because she liked you a lot too, hon.  I don't need to tell you all about her because you probably are one of her children, or grandchildren, or great-grandchildren, a friend, a fellow coffee-drinker, a St. Louis Cardinals fan, an Illini devotee, a lottery scratcher scratcher, someone who attended the grade school where she was the secretary for years, a neighbor, or maybe one of her "kids".  Actually, we're all her kids.  That was the thing about Grammy Sue, she knew that you can't run out of love if you give it away to others.

    Grammy Sue knew how to perfectly microwave a scrambled egg.  It might have had something to do with the wattage of her microwave, but it had everything to do with her making it.  No one else could do it just the same.  Grammy made the most delicious fried apple pie and molasses cookies.  Her recipes are a challenge to pin down because, again, it had more to do with the baker than the ingredients, but most of us in the family have tried at one point or another.  No matter how close I've come though, everything always tasted better when Grammy made it as though her use of the endearment "sug" actually sweetened her confections.  She knew that making things to share made them taste better.

    This is not to say that Grammy Sue was all whipped meringue and fluffy stuff.  She was always put together and coiffed which only made it all the more real when she would correct anyone who stepped out of line, particularly if that person had wronged one of her kids.  She was more than capable of pointing her index finger at the heart of the matter and reminding someone that they should think about what they're doing.  Grammy could remind anyone, the Queen herself if need be, that no matter who they may think they are, they are not, in fact, any more special than anyone else on this planet. In most cases, these corrections ended up with Grammy Sue adopting another kid to the brood because the end of "You are not any more special than anyone else on this planet." was "And no one is any more special than you."  Grammy knew that we're all just humans trying our best with what we have so we all deserve to be afforded the same dignity to do just that.  There was room enough in Grammy's heart to love everyone - flaws, missteps, redemption stories, and all.  Grammy Sue knew that you don't run out of space.   

    Grammy Sue could whistle better than anyone.  She loved circus peanuts (I have no idea why).  She was always proud to be from Arkansas, but Grammy NEVER lived in Texas.  She liked flowers and pretty things and was blessed with the kind of vision that saw beauty all over.  If you wanted to talk to her then she wanted to talk to you.  Old hymns were some of her favorites.  She loved purses and Christmas dishes.  She was a competitive rummy player but couldn't stand to see someone having a bad run of luck, so rules would be bent or ignored altogether.  Her hugs and gentle hand pats were the kind that filled you up with light and her soft-spoken but steady "Love this kid." made you feel warm enough that you forgot any kind of cold that had touched you for awhile.  Grammy Sue was never what other people would call of person of means, but she was exactly what you would call a woman of substance.  And she was skilled at giving that away to others.  If you didn't know Grammy Sue, I hope you have someone like her in your life.  Though there's really no one exactly like her.  I think I'll go try to scramble an egg and whistle a little.  Love you, Grammy.  Thank you for everything.