Gee-Gee

My Gee-Gee passed away this afternoon and it just got me thinking about all the things I loved about her. This post is for my benefit but you are free to catch a glimpse of this piece of my heart if you wish.
I remember...
...driving back to Santa Rosa to visit for a while and we'd stop at a place on the way where we'd ride a little train and go feed the animals.
...going for walks in the woods and being so quiet that we could see the deer up close.
...the little basket of Barbies that I'd play with in the guest room.
...sitting on the bed to listen to her recording her voice reading us stories.
...peanut time, about an hour before dinner when I could go down to the garage to get a short can of soda and eat peanuts in those little wooden bowls.
...Pops' incredible model train set up downstairs.
...swimming all the time and feeling the soft tan skin on her arms.
...playing "Go Fish" on the beach towel.
...seeing raccoons in the early morning out on the deck.
...eating my favorite meal that she made for me- hamburger stroganoff out on the deck.
...my friend across the street who was a granddaughter of Gee-Gee's friend. I was given two fudgesicles for her and I to share.
...playing Barbies with that same little girl while we were at a funeral reception for one of Gee-Gee's friends.
...spilling juice on the oriental rug and being scolded for it.
...playing "Memory". There was a card that had bugs on it and whenever she would turn it over, she'd scream in mock disgust. Later, when I was in high school, I went on a trip to Colorado and bought her a souvenir. It was a purple paperweight with a scorpion inside. She and I mailed it back and forth to each other several times. :) I have it now.
...coffee cake.
...goofy cake.
...snickerdoodles. We'd cook them together and she'd send them back with me for my dad- they were his favorite.
...my green Tinkerbell toothbrush.
...that big plastic pink fish in the bathtub.
...going to church and kneeling on that thing that you kneel on.
...going out to North's brunch for dinner.
...one time she took me to a miniature horse show and I got to ride in a little carriage pulled by the horses.
...creamed spinach.
...rolled up dollar bills tied with a red ribbon.
...sometimes, she'd send me money on my brothers' birthday so that I wouldn't feel left out.
...the smell from their house- I loved it and was so reluctant to have my mom wash my things when I came home.
...when they moved to Mission Viejo and she called the security guard to say that there was a rattlesnake in her back patio. They came out expecting to see a garden snake but sure enough, Gee-Gee knew what she saw!
...Gee-Gee teaching me to cross-stitch and to knit.
...the Suzy's Friends ornaments that she made for our Christmas tree.
...my pink baby blanket that she knit for me. I left it on the heater once and now it has two large holes in it.
...driving with Nick and our new baby to Palm Desert to introduce Adam to his great grandma and grandpa in the 117 degree weather.
...the one and only time that Sam and Gee-Gee were able to meet this past December.
...all of those Christmas and birthday cards that she always remembered to send and signed with xoxo.
...that she used to spell my name "Missie" when my name was "Missy". I liked it better her way and changed it in 6th grade.
...that I loved her.
...that I already miss her.