The last 48 hours have gone by in a slow blur. A couple weeks ago my Grandma Mary passed away and we just had the visitation and funeral. I helped my mother write down some things about Grandma, and then spoke on her behalf today.

My Five Favorite Memories of Grandma Mary

1. Playing Cards

We still have a huge white board with the rules to Hand and Foot permanently etched into it. Add a “Knee” and we were guaranteed to be up past our bedtime. I don’t think I’ll be able to play Golf without tasting homemade bread or cinnamon rolls.

 

2. Homemade Chicken Paprikash

Look at all the tiny noodles! They’re supposed to be small, but my mom and I like them bigger. If I helped make them, I tried to get away with making the noodles bigger, but Grandma would wrench the plate away from me and then do it herself. So stubborn!

 

3. Bowling

That’s me bowling a gutter ball. Grandma taught me how to bowl, but I’m just no good at it. However, Grandma was a bowler for 40 plus years and won around 50 silver and gold medals!

4. Moccasin Shoes

She had indoor and outdoor moccasin shoes, I’ll always remember that.

 

5. Visiting Her in Florida

A couple years after high school, I took my first solo vacation by driving down to visit Grandma in Florida. We went to the beach a couple of times and I got horrifically lost trying to find DisneyWorld. I loved having Grandma drive me around in the golf cart. It was mid-December and so odd to see Christmas lights on palm trees.

I have so many wonderful memories. Family ice-cream outings. Hosing off shells in her driveway. Watching bull riding. I was so excited that she could be a part of my wedding last year.

Grandma Mary lives on forever in my heart…and I’m making chicken paprikash this weekend.

-Kristina Wise