not ready to say goodye...

We buried Mommom yesterday, and it was the hardest thing we had to do. I was not ready to say goodbye. I just didn't want to let her go. She was very special to me and I know I was to her. I love her so much and saying goodbye was not something I thought I would have to do with her. I guess I figured she would be with us longer. She was born in Plainfield, Georgia, her late husband was Pierce O'Neal who passed on Oct. 16, 1983, she had 2 sons (Paul & Charles & 1 daughter (Rosa) as well as 11 grandchildren & 11 great grandchildren. She loved people..(just like me). She loved to crochet before she got arthritis. I still have the Afghan she made me when I was 12 years old. I keep it on my quilt rack, because it has a hole in it and I don't want it to tear anymore. I don't know anyone who crochets. So it lays safely on my quilt rack until I can get it fixed. Puzzles were another favorite of hers..she would keep working on it until it was complete. I remember when she would sit there putting the pieces together and I would go over & sit with her & we would just be talking & it would be just natural that you grabbed a puzzle piece and figure it out with her. Mommom loved her sweets. When I was young, her & I would sit & watch tv & eat a whole box of ice cream sandwiches, then if we still wanted more ice cream, she would pull the Klondike bars out. She had such a a sweet tooth! Baking was another part of her life, so many cakes, pies, cookies & candy...so much to choose from. She definitely was a southern cook too. I loved her back eyes peas, pork & collard greens. Her fried corn bread was out of this world. She would get that cast iron skillet burning & fry up that corn bread. There are so many things I will remember about my Mommom and I will pass that along to my children. I know she is in peace now. She isn't having any physical pain or struggling with dementia anymore. She is now in Heaven with Poppop & the Lord. For that we will miss her a great deal and never forget what a what wonderful grandmother she was & she will forever remain in our hearts.

(taken in summer 2005)