Valentines Day 9

I Love:

Grandma Brown

I've been blessed to be surrounded by great women in my life. Grandma is near the top of that list. She has been everything a grandma should be: supportive, loving, nurturing, and a timeless example of wisdom.

As a young girl, the lesson I first remember Grandma teaching me, was not to pick my nose (although mom had tried). I remember this vividly for the the mere fact that I was embarrassed she had caught me. "Pretty girls don't pick their nose", she told me.

Grandma was always a proper lady. She took pride in looking and acting her best. She still does. At her house, her nail dryer was my favorite toy. I recall her painting her nails often and she is still never seen without a file nearby. Even today, without a dishwasher, grandma has elegant hands with beautiful nails. It is no surprise that grandma taught me how to paint my own nails and how to keep my hands looking nice.

As a child, I used to believe I was hand model quality by the way grandma told me my nails were arched and my skin was so perfectly fair. "Don't get any scars" she used to tell me "you could be a hand model, but they don't like scars"! For years, even through warts on my nail beds, I never got a scar until, I fell on my roller skates, and in catching myself, ironically jabbed my long, strong, no doubt beautifully painted, right thumb nail into the top of my left hand. My skin holds the scar to this day. So much for hand modeling, though I'm sure they just cut and paste in whatever hand looks better then the current one in the picture anyway. Do hand models even exist?

It was a good self esteem booster anyhow.

Grandma did get me into modeling, not for hands, but for Mervyns department store kids clothing. She told me they would love my pretty smile. Turned out I had a pretty smile, but was too shy to show it to the camera. Acting was awkward. Modeling lasted a few stints in the paper until another cute girl came along who could act and smile on cue. The part I liked about it, was that grandma took me, and we were able to have a girls day.

When I was eight, grandma was the one who took me to get my ears pierced, by her hair dresser- of all people. After the first ear was pierced, I wanted nothing to do with the second ear feeling that same pain. I cried and cried demanding not to follow through with both ears. Grandma was patient and sympathetic when she explained how funny I would look with only one ear pierced. I endured the next ear, then cried on her shoulder while that ear was flaming hot.

Grandma always spoiled me ROTTEN! I was the only granddaughter who lived close, and she liked to shop. I never felt anything but well loved. She's a shopper and when a good deal is found, she takes advantage of it, especially if it is female related. Even now she loves to spoil my girls with cute outfits, and I don't mind a bit. Somehow, I missed getting the shopping gene.

I could write about grandma until I ran out of space. She was always supportive of my endeavors as a child and now. She is always interested in how and what I'm doing in my life. She values my work at home with my children and understands my struggles. She loves my husband, treating him as her own, and he loves her. My girls love grandma great, and enjoy spending time at her house. She never misses a birthday with a phone call, card or present. She always shows she cares. Grandma taught me to quit complaining and count my blessings and to appreciate laundry day (as much as one can) with modern washers and dryers.

I love you grandma. What a wonderful woman you are in my life. I have been so fortunate to have you close for these 32 years. Here's to enjoying many more.