Living in Alabama the past year has definitely taken a toll on how much I've been able to visit my Grandma in person, so we simply had to do our best with phone calls and making the most out of my visits when they did happen. While in Texas for my sister's wedding over the recent holidays, I was excited about being able to squeeze in a visit. Grandma had gone downhill considerably over the past few months and was not having one of her better days when I visited. She was very weak and didn't talk much, but I managed to get plenty of smiles and hand-squeezes (she is known for those) out of her. When I was about to leave, I reminded her that she really needed to get better so we could celebrate and eat an entire cake together (we're both suckers for sweets) when I came back to spend her birthday with her in April. She simply looked me in the eye, squeezed my hand and said, "you'll understand one of these days". It was at that moment that I knew we would not be celebrating her 96th birthday together. I tried not to let her see me cry as I hugged and kissed her and told her that I loved her and would see her soon. Two days later, Grandma became unresponsive. Two days after that, she passed away peacefully.
Tomorrow morning I am headed back to my dear 'ol Texas to celebrate the life and legacy of one of the strongest women I have ever known. The woman that raised seven children on a rural ranch with the majority of that time being on her own in the absence of her late husband, my grandfather Joe, who passed away 44 years ago. I am proud to carry on her name, her stubbornness, her love for sweets and food in general, her appreciation for a rowdy rendition of "Roll Out The Barrel", her passion for being incredibly social and her love for children.
It has taken me all week to write this post, but it gave me time to work up a list of my favorite memories of Louise Heinemann that I know will give everyone a true picture of how funny and amazing this lady truly was. Here are the memories I will cherish most...
- How she would always tell me how cold my hands were, then follow by saying that "cold hands mean a warm heart".
- How she looked forward to funerals almost as much as weddings because she could see all of her friends there. That's a sign of a true social butterfly, another quality we share.
- How when I went to college at Tarleton State University and made friends with kids from Fredericksburg and told them where my Grandma lived, they all knew her as "the old lady that walked all the time and waved".
- How I am pretty sure she still thought I was going to graduate from Texas A&M University until I actually had my Tarleton diploma in hand. She loved those dang Aggies!
- How proud she was of me for majoring in and working in the agricultural industry. Though I am no longer an ag teacher, she loved telling people when I was.
- How she would tell everyone to sleep late but would be up banging pots and pans at 5:00 a.m. while listening to polka music.
- How she would get onto my dad about getting up and getting to work on the list of things she needed done at the ranch, but would insist on cooking him all his favorites for breakfast.
- Her extensive collection of rosaries from around the world and how she displayed them in her bedroom.
- How we would go eat at Golden Corral and she would use the dinner plate as a dessert plate. She and I both share a sweet tooth the size of Texas.
- How she would make the best (award winning no less) homemade cinnamon rolls, pecan pies, fruit preserves and meringue pies. Seriously, her meringues were fluffed and browned to perfection like they could appear in a magazine.
- How she once leaned over at a family function and told me that some man at the Golden Hub (the retirement home that she cooked at for years) told her that her bread pudding was better than (wait for it) sex. Yes, I nearly fell off the couch.
- How she loved flowers and all things colorful. Especially pinks and purples.
- How she could open a pantry that seemed empty and somehow still manage to find ingredients to make homemade cookies.
- How she could squeeze your hand with the strength of a 300 pound man and make you wince.
- How she always loudly said the Lord's Prayer at least a word or two ahead or behind the rest of the church. The same for her Hail Marys.
- How she killed a pesky armadillo right in front of us grandkids with her walking stick and never thought twice about it. Now that's tough folks.
- How she could go from speaking English to German and back to English again in one sentence.
- How her face lit up anytime someone spoke to her in German.
- How her face lit up when a man with an accordion singing German songs showed up at her retirement party. He did a mean version of both Roll Out The Barrel and The Chicken Dance.
- How she loved The Chicken Dance. Who doesn't love The Chicken Dance?
- How she cooked and baked. This woman could make anything taste good. And she never sent anyone home hungry. In fact, she usually sent you home five pounds heavier.
- How she sent cinnamon rolls home with me to give my best friend Kristin every visit after she came to Fredericksburg with me once and experienced the magic of those rolls for herself.
-How she always referred to me as 'the baby' or 'my baby' since I was the youngest grandchild. She still did this even when great grandchildren started showing up so I felt extra special.
- How she named all of her cows and how she would 'call them up' to eat when I would go with her to feed.
- How her face always lit up at the site of her great grandchildren.
- How she always said she wanted her grandchildren to sing 'How Great Thou Art' at her funeral. I am hoping she'll be happy that we sing it along with the rest of the attendees. Turns out none of us are all that great of singers.
- How she drank Sanka instant decaffeinated coffee with every meal.
- How she loved people and people loved her. It never ceased to amaze me how people I had never met would approach us after church, come chat with us at a restaurant or show up at some other celebration and tell me how much they loved my Grandma. She was like a Grandma to so many.
- How all the florists in Fredericksburg already knew what colors (pink and purple) to use when any of the family called to send her flowers.
- How proud she really was of everything and everyone in her life, even if she didn't say it.
- How she always brought our big family together. No matter what disagreements were going on, we would all come together for Grandma because it meant so much to her. I hope can still continue this even though she's not here with us in a physical sense.
- How devout of a Catholic she was.
- How she never doubted her faith even as she outlived a countless number of friends, family and even her oldest son Sidney.
- How she has always inspired me with her strength, faith and love.
There are so many more fond memories and I am sure I will add to this list as time goes on and as the family reminisces this weekend. For now I will simply hold an image of her smile and pretend I can feel the squeeze of her hand as I lock these memories in tight to share with my children one of these days. After all, they need to know where their mother gets her stubbornness and overwhelming love for baked goods :)
From one Louise to another, I will see you again one day Grandma. Have fun with all the old friends and family you have missed so much and give my grandfather and Uncle Sidney a squeeze for me.
