She could put on a pair of blue jeans with cowboy boots and work cows all day with the men. Then dawn a dress by evening and throw a dinner party with nothing left to imagine.
She had an infectious laugh and a smile that would light up the room. We thought she walked on water. She was a jewel who got along with everyone.
She was our Grandma Retta. We always viewed her in a sense of wonderment as she was unlike anyone we knew in our young lives.
We lived just across the road from her and Poppee on the ranch. It seemed her patience with three small girls never ran thin. She would drop everything and devote her time to playing with us. She would let us play dress up with her clothes, read our favorite books to us, paint our fingernails, make ice cream cones, and do our hair. She even convinced Poppee to let us do HIS hair!
She would often take us on the seven mile trip to get the mail. We loved these short trips with Grandma. As soon as we got in the car she would give us all a stick of gum and lead us in a chorus of "The Crawdad Hole."
Whenever we were together and it was time for her to go, she would kiss each of us, leaving an imprint of bright, red lipstick on our cheeks. Then she would take her thumb and skillfully rub at our cheeks and announce with a giggle "Now you have rouge." As we got older she continued to do this and everytime made me giggle and love her even more.
When they moved to the city, she would throw birthday parties for each of us. In typical Retta fashion, everything was done with flair. There are not too many people who bring out the fine china for a five year olds birthday! She always served our favorite meal at these parties, fried chicken and her famous gravy. Everyone in attendance was required to wear a party hat, this included Poppee and Dad.
We would go to the city and stay with them for a week during the summer. She would take us to the grocery store on the first day and we were each allowed to pick out our favorite cereal. She also let us each pick a different restaurant to eat at while we were there. Our days were packed full of swimming, sightseeing and shopping. Never a dull moment with her.
The sad day came when the woman we thought was invincible passed away from Alzheimer's. Moved and afflicted by the firsthand effects that this disease had on her, we formed a team and walked at our local Alzheimer's Memory Walk this past September.
She had an infectious laugh and a smile that would light up the room. We thought she walked on water. She was a jewel who got along with everyone.
She was our Grandma Retta. We always viewed her in a sense of wonderment as she was unlike anyone we knew in our young lives.
We lived just across the road from her and Poppee on the ranch. It seemed her patience with three small girls never ran thin. She would drop everything and devote her time to playing with us. She would let us play dress up with her clothes, read our favorite books to us, paint our fingernails, make ice cream cones, and do our hair. She even convinced Poppee to let us do HIS hair!
She would often take us on the seven mile trip to get the mail. We loved these short trips with Grandma. As soon as we got in the car she would give us all a stick of gum and lead us in a chorus of "The Crawdad Hole."
Whenever we were together and it was time for her to go, she would kiss each of us, leaving an imprint of bright, red lipstick on our cheeks. Then she would take her thumb and skillfully rub at our cheeks and announce with a giggle "Now you have rouge." As we got older she continued to do this and everytime made me giggle and love her even more.
When they moved to the city, she would throw birthday parties for each of us. In typical Retta fashion, everything was done with flair. There are not too many people who bring out the fine china for a five year olds birthday! She always served our favorite meal at these parties, fried chicken and her famous gravy. Everyone in attendance was required to wear a party hat, this included Poppee and Dad.
We would go to the city and stay with them for a week during the summer. She would take us to the grocery store on the first day and we were each allowed to pick out our favorite cereal. She also let us each pick a different restaurant to eat at while we were there. Our days were packed full of swimming, sightseeing and shopping. Never a dull moment with her.
The sad day came when the woman we thought was invincible passed away from Alzheimer's. Moved and afflicted by the firsthand effects that this disease had on her, we formed a team and walked at our local Alzheimer's Memory Walk this past September.
We walked to honor Grandma Retta and in hopes that someday soon there will be a cure for Alzheimer's.
They say that you carry on something from everyone you meet. Grandma had somewhat of a heavy foot when she got behind the wheel of the car. Many times us girls (including our mom) would tear out of the driveway like the devil was behind us. After one of those episodes, Dad said, "you girls learned that from your mother...and your mother learned that from Retta." She was a goer. We learned a lot more than that from her and our many memories will continue to teach us more, like kindness, patience and cheerfulness in all weather. We thank the Lord that He put her in our lives and we'll remember her with love forever.
