A Tribute to Grandmother Betty

Grandma, when I first think of you, I think of everything soft, sweet, and lovely. I think of summer days waiting for your motor home to turn the corner of our dead end street. I think of sitting outside with makeshift easels in our front yard as you taught my siblings and me. I think of how your skin is the softest, and your fingers the gentlest when you stroked my hair or held my hand.

And yet, the softness hid a vein of strength that carried you through the toughest of times, whether job, family, or other situation rocked your world.

You are a woman of decision. You chose what you wanted, and you pursued it.

You are a woman of intelligence, especially as one of the few women to choose a science degree in an area that had always been dominated by males.

You are a woman of love. You set your cap for my grandfather, sharing that story with anyone who would listen, and then, through thick and thin, you lived out your vow before God to respect and love your husband in holy matrimony for more than 63 years.

I deeply admire you.

Grandma, I love how you enjoyed the arts, whether sewing, painting, dancing, singing, or just living life. Funny enough, I enjoy all those things. We must be related.

You were constantly telling me how beautiful I am, how intelligent, how kind, how thoughtful, and how wonderful. That constant investment has shaped how I carry myself today. And when I was a little beast to you, you still loved me and even helped me transform a wrecked piece of art into something magical (which won me a blue ribbon at the county fair). You still loved me, even seeing some of the worst parts of me.

If I had a fan club, you would have been one of the chair members, ready to throw your weight behind everything and anything I was doing.

Grandma, I kind of hate that you are leaving us now. I understand that this is a natural and necessary part of life, but I selfishly want you to stay. I want you to be here when my first book is published. I want you to be here to see my first house. I want you to witness my wedding some day, and I want you to hold my future children. But I know that this cannot be, but I want you to know that you are always wanted.

My sweet Grandma Betty, I love you as only a granddaughter can love her grandmother, the walking family history book who can share stories for hours upon hours. I treasure the memories we made together, whether it was standing tearfully in front of your motor home with you saying “It’s not goodbye. It’s ‘see you soon’!” or it was sharing giggles with you over funny pictures I found on Pinterest. You are so special to me.

If you see anything in me that you like, it’s because of the way you invested and loved on me throughout my life. May your legacy, especially the softness and strength, live on in me.

See you soon.