My Grandma Bob was an organizer. Everything about her was organized. Her closets, cupboards, drawers, purse everything. I didn't get that from her, of all the things she did teach me, that one just passed me by. I knew she was organized, it just didn't rub off on me.
She was also a poster child for Miss Manners. She taught me the proper way to set the table, her and Grandpa sat at the set dinning room table every night. Grandma's table is the only one I have ever set. When her phone would ring, she would clear her throat and answer "mmmhello!" I asked her once, why she cleared her throat like that. She said her voice was usually raspy from not talking in a while and she wanted to make sure that the caller would be able to hear her properly. It's kind of funny, I sometimes catch myself doing that when I go to answer the phone. Not that there is any chance that I haven't been talking in a while, but I guess her example left an impression.
Grandma taught me that little girls should sit quietly and carefully at the kitchen table while painting their fingernails and that soft pink is an appropriate color. And to be very careful not to move while drying or you were sure to smudge.
I can still hear her matter of fact tone when she described in detail, who were in pictures and what they were doing. She explained everything with great authority. I think I got this from her, the need to explain everything, to death. The small details that maybe someone just might not see. Yeah, that's me, I'll point them out, just like she did.
Clara made me feel very safe when I was with her, she always had anything I could need. Kleenex, extra tooth brush, mosquito bite paste. Once she even put pads in my bag when I wasn't looking. She didn't tell me she knew I started my period, but she knew, I knew, that she knew. I always though it was such a treat, when I slept over, to wear her silky nightgowns. My favorite ( pronounced by grandma as fave-or-ite), was the pink one.
I still have a couple of quilts she made me. With a little repair, I'll keep them forever. And when she died, I got one of her sweaters. In the pocket, I found a tissue (which I threw away) and a hand written grocery list. I'll keep the list forever too.
As much as I miss her, I can't even imagine how much my Grandpa misses her. That's become very apparent to me lately because he talks about her frequently, and you can hear it in his voice. I'm sure she's patiently waiting for him.
