photo #1489313

Let me tell you about my Grams. This lady grew up on a small farm in Southern Illinois. She fell in love with the big, smiling, baritone singing son of the local blacksmith. When he went off to school in Chicago she dropped out of school and followed him! They were married, she worked as a cook in a restaurant while he finished school. He became an Engineer on the railroad and she kept house, had a big garden, canned for winter, baked, knitted and always entertained their friends. Grampa and Grams took care of her father in their home. Grandpa retired and they decided to travel.They traveled throughout 49 states as well as Mexico and Canada. They always wintered in Southern Texas, and when Gramps got sick Grams took care of him. When he died, Grams was a thousand miles from her only child and determined to remain independent! She continued to travel, adding Hawaii to the list and decided to go on a charter to Fiji. After all she was already in Hawaii! About 6 years before she died she finally had to move to the same city as her only child but she remained independent. Grams was an example of a truly loving, strong, fun-loving woman, she did what had to be done when it needed to be done! She placed the needs of her family above herself. She taught me how to live and age gracefully!