Roadrunner

Ten years ago today we lost my grandma. You may remember a little about her from my previous posts. She is the biggest influence on my life, even to this day. Not one single day goes by that she is not thought of or talked to or about. Lately, I have caught a few minutes here or there of her favorite soap operas and can hear her talking about these people that she came to know. This was her vice. She did not leave the house until they had all finished and the mail had come. The one exception to this was vacation. She took vacation with us every summer. We had a pretty standard routine. Laughlin, Yuma,Phoenix,Bisbee (where she grew up) and the capper, Disneyland. Through Arizona and Nevada she stayed in the hotel and watched her soaps, made friends with fellow hotel guests and let me and my sisters sleep in her bed. She always brought a train case packed with anything you could think of medicine wise. At Disneyland she rode few rides. Pirates of the Carribean, Small world and the Haunted Mansion . After an exciting day of rides for us the best part was still to come. We would find Grandma at her bench on Main Street, shopping bags pooled at her feet. We'd head back to the hotel and she would unveil all the treasures she had found for us.
Eating out was so fun. She was partial to Tom Tates, where she was almost thrown out for feeding us off of her plate from the buffet. And Sambos, anyone remember that? I wish these prices were current......
As I get older, I am more and more grateful to my parents for making that possible. Family vacations are great memories and they are made all the more special for the fact that Grandma was a part of them. This has been on my mind recently as we get ready for our vacation at the end of this month. I am filled with love and admiration for my husband for allowing me to continue these memories with my children. My mom will be here two weeks from today to go away with us. Our kids are so happy that Grandma will be with us and I am so happy to follow in my mothers footsteps. With every passing year, she becomes more and more like her mother. It makes Grandmas being gone a little more bearable when I am reminded so much of her by my mama. I hope that my kids will look back on this time in their lives and remember how much they are loved as I do. I miss you so much Grandma and when we buckle in for our trip this month I know you will be with us too. All my love always, Matilda