Goodbye Grandma

My grandma passed away on May 31, 2011. She was born in 1922 and was 89 years old. She was the grandma that we were closest to. My dad is an only child, just leaving us 4 grand kids. I have so many memories of her, and was reminded of more when we went down to Las Vegas for her funeral. I remember so many weekends that we spent at their home. Most of the times we slept at their house, they would take us to breakfast the following morning, usually to Sam's Town. My older brother shared a memory that Grandma and Grandpa always wanted to be out of the house by 8, so they could be home by 10 for The Price is Right. I think I was too young to remember that, but it sure does sound like my grandparents. The memory that sticks out the most in my mind is that grandma would always buy the cereals with the toys we wanted in them. But she usually had to buy more than one so we wouldn't fight and we each got our own toy. When she had her stroke in 2006 and moved into the home, I don't know what ended up happening to those toys but I know she had kept them. She took so much pride in her grandchildren, and later the partners that we chose. Alan's wife, Sheena, has been around the longest so we all knew how much grandma loved her, but she would often tell me how much she loved and adored Kyle. What a special gift she had to be so full of love and affection towards everyone. The great grandchildren were also a great joy to her. We would walk into her home with our kids in hand and she would beam from ear to ear. I don't know too much from her past because there were some things she just wouldn't talk about, but I know she always wanted a little girl. My sister and I were always very special to her for that reason. But she was waiting and waiting for a great grandchild to be a girl. And I am devastated that she didn't get to met our sweet little girl before she passed. Jay shared a memory about grandma that hit my heart in a way like no other. My grandma didn't drive. As far back as I can remember she didn't even have a license. So after my grandpa passed in 1999, we took over picking her up and helping her run her errands. When I started driving, I would take her shopping once a week. I always looked forward to these outings with my grandma. She would always take us out to eat as well and Jay remembered as clear as I do how much grandma loved Taco Bell and Arby's. I can remember one time we went to Sam's Town (she lived right near there) and she won like $40 gambling and gave it all to me and just said "Don't tell your dad." I have So many special memories of my grandma, and I am grateful for the time I got to spend with her and to get to know her and love her. Grandparents are such a special part of growing up and I am grateful to still have my grandma and grandpa Andersen and all 4 of Kyle's grandparents. They definitely are a blessing in our lives.