Family -Grandparents

This year I lost both my grandparents. Grandma passed sleeping next to Grandpa in August and Grandpa left 10 months later in June 2011. I probably shouldn't call it a lost. I had the pleasure of spending every holiday of my 43 years with them. I have been able to cherish and honor their marriage of 69 years during my own wedding. I was allowed to care for my grandmother during her last 5 months of life. It was my honor to care for the lady that cared for our family for so many years. She called me Sweet-Patooty and my daughter and her first grand, Sweety-Pie. My grandmother loved being with her friends to play cards, travel, walk and even swim until she was 72. My grandmother loved to read and reading was pasted on to her daughters and myself. she loved mysteries and a daily crossword puzzle. Her humor and simple come backs were a joy to hear. My grnadmother started repeatng herslef and retelling the same stories when we realized she was failing. My heart pains just writing this. My love for my grandmother is only a tenth of the love my grandfather had for her. She protected us from his tempers. She soothed the beast when it got out of hand. She loved him beacuse he deserved to be loved! My grandfather weathered the depression as a child and supported his family as a pre-teen. He set high standards for working hard as a salesman, business owner and inventor. He was never rich. He rarely showed affection, but I know he loved his family by his demands and expectations for us to be together during hoildays. My grandfather taught me to ride a bike, influenced me to always do my best no matter how tough the task, the color of my skin or what others said about me. He taught me to investigate and never get cheated out of a fair deal. My grandfather walked me down the aisle  and said this was one of thes happiest day of his life. He was my only daddy. Today I honor my grandparents and their love for each other and family. Today I remember them and their laughs and lectures. Today I am missing my grandparents- Edward Todd and Theresa Jean Carson.