My Grandma Starrs

This morning my Grandma Starrs passed away. She had been in the hospital and nursing home lately, so as they say, it wasn't a complete surprise. But it was still a shock when my dad called me with the news this morning.

My grandma was one of the best grandmas around. She was sweet and loving, without being too Pollyannaish. When we were little, she and grandpa would hide Easter eggs all over their yard for me and David to find. She always had blueberry muffins and rhubarb cherry jam on hand for our breakfast. When she finally got a microwave, she hung the directions for heating up the muffins (Time 25 Start) on the cabinet for me and David to reference. When I went to college she sent me a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies. When I opened the Schwan's chicken patty box I discovered that she had wrapped each cookie individually in saran wrap. Each cookie. She gave me her beautiful lavier necklace which I wore on my wedding day.

I inherited her love of lemonade and chocolate milk shakes. There is no doubt that I also inherited my grandma's eyes. Hazel. But more importantly, she was a champion eye roller. With years of practice under my belt, I think I'm prepared to take over the title. I can't tell you how important that skill has been when I'm teaching. Great for diffusing the whininess of teenagers.

My dad went up to Cheyenne to see my grandma a couple of weeks ago. I decided to call and check to see how things were going. As luck would have it, my dad was still at the hospital with my grandma and I was able to talk with her. She could hear me better over the phone than during my last few in-person visits. I had recently sent her some pictures of the boys including the one with Reid's first tooth. She said she was looking forward to seeing a picture of Aiden's fist tooth as well. I told her I had been trying with no luck. I stepped up the quest after talking to her, but getting a 10-month old to show off his teeth for the camera is as easy as giving him a haircut or keeping his nails trimmed. Quite the challenge!

I was hoping to take the boys up to Cheyenne to visit grandma during spring break in a week, which makes me even more thankful I had the chance to talk with her. I hope I can do as good a job of raising my little boys as she did raising her two sons.

I'm going to really miss my grandma.