my ‘grandmother’

My mother, with love so good and true
Just like an angel, was sent down from the blue
Could I but carry the burdens away
For my mother today

Through words of anger, still she’ll befriend
Instead of envy, she’ll give, give again
When day is ended, a soft voice you’ll hear
“Dear God, forgive us” is my mother’s prayer

My mother, as pure as precious gold
Fresh in my mem’ry, she’ll never grow old
Down at the crossroads to show me the way
Is my mother each day

When she looks back at the life that I’ve lived
If I have faltered, she always forgives
I ask in silence of One Most Divine
May all be blessed with a mother like mine

dear grandma

Grandma, I don’t even know where to begin. You were, and always will be a great big part of my life. You were the best grandma anyone could ask for. You taught me so much, I wouldn’t be me without you. You taught me to love and respect others, you taught me to love and respect myself. There wasn’t a person you’ve met that wasn’t touched by your smile. I was spoiled with your love every day. Even near the end, when I know it was hard for you, you kept flashing that smile, as another way to comfort us. The world is so lucky, because they just got a brand new angel.

I can’t remember a time when you weren’t a part of my life. You, mom and me. People called us the 3 amigos. Robyn said it best to me the other day, she saw me as being part of a 2 parent household; you and mom and me. Well, now its just mom and me, but you’ll be in our hearts forever and we are so lucky you showed us the way of love.

I remember as a kid, being rocked to sleep while you sang to me songs in french. I learned that in your last few naps you were also singing songs in french, a song about being a mother. I like to imagine your mom being in your dreams, of the two of you singing together, she being with you as you left this life and entered the next.

With you I was always singing or laughing or singing and laughing. We would sit upstairs and sing and sing and sing, so many songs into your cassette recorder. From patti page to the cavaliers and everything in between; johnny cash, patsy cline, elvis and the supremes. I remember riding around in your old hatchback and when the “zoom-zoom-zoom” rap song played how we would sing along and laugh about it because it was just so silly.

I remember so many little things as well as big, you were always there for me. All graduations, plays, you even came to one of my cello recitals a few years ago.

Remember when we wanted to “redecorate” moms house. We went and picked out new pillows and a flower arrangement. The flowers are still around. Remember when I was so very much into nkotb, and I totally redecorated your spare room into a nkotb dream room for a weekend.

I made you teeshirts with puff paint and you always wore them. I made you drawings, sculptures and other crafts and they cover your house to this day.

I tried and tried to find your rosary that I got for you years ago so you could take it with you but couldn’t find it. Yesterday as mom was looking through your “regular” purse she found it. The fact that you carried it around made me so happy, I’m sorry that I didn’t find it in time to leave it with you, but I’ll keep it. I’m sure that’s okay with you.

Remember our walks, around westland mall, you taught me how to “window shop”. Remember our walks around westgate park, we were going to be in the best shape. Remember when we used the exercise ropes we tied to the door and used as we laid on the floor, we were so silly looking.

I love your spaghetti, it’s a smell I recognize anywhere. I’m sorry I stopped eating meat as I would love a big heap of sauce right now. Your pizzelle’s are my absolute favorite snack. So simple but so amazingly good.

I used to come home and say “this ___ smells like grandma house”. What I wouldn’t do for that scent right now.

Remember the easter egg hunts in your backyard. Remember when we made the easter tree. Remember all of the red plaid dresses you bought me for all holidays.

Golden girls, jake and the fat man, and little house on the prairie.

You are the most beautiful person I’ve ever met. At your showing, people would tell me how much I reminded them of you, wow!, what an amazing thing to hear, I hope I can be at least half the woman, half as beautiful as you, outside and if I could be anything like you on the inside, what a great thing to be.

I’ll never finish this story, I’ll never finish writing out what you’ve done for me. Words could never express my love. I can’t even begin. I’ll always have your voice, your songs. I’ll never forget.

I love you. I miss you.

Love, sue

cute collections

love this print

city and colour – the girl

I wish I could do better by you,
cause that’s what you deserve.
you sacrifice so much of your life,
in order for this to work.

while I’m off chasing my own dreams,
sailing around the world,
please know that I’m yours to keep,
my beautiful girl.

and when you cry a piece of my heart dies,
knowing that I may have been the cause,
if you were to leave, fulfill someone elses dreams,
i think I might totally be lost.

but you don’t ask for no diamond rings,
no delicate string of pearls,
that’s why I wrote this song to sing,
my beautiful girl

Had a great birthday, mike and I both worked earlier shifts, done by 4. From brooklyn we went straight to times square and dave & busters, it was perfect. Cheap margaritas, skeeball and the quarter game. We then stopped off at Bryant park to ice skate for a little while. We were a little sketchy at first but it was tons of fun.

It’s crazy, the weather was beautiful yesterday. Since it’s my birthday ‘day’, I remember the weather of just about each one before and none being anything like this. Usually on this day it’s freezing out, snow or an ice storm if not straight up blizzard conditions. If no snow or ice falling, then that usually means the temperature is too cold to even produce precipitation. Childhood birthdays without a party because it was always too blistery to even go outside. But not this year, close to 60*, and sunny. I had no scarf, hat or mittens. It was amazing.

After skating we walked up to johnny rockets (we had a groupon and I love cheap diner food). The vegi-burger wasn’t bad, just boca but not bad. After dinner I was able to talk mike into a tram ride to rooselvelt island. It was a quick ride but so pretty, the queensboro bridge all lit up. Took the F to the G and back to brooklyn we ended the night.

I’m now sitting at JFK, awaiting my flight home to be with my family and friends and visit the best birthday gift ever, sweet little marion lynne; I can’t wait to meet you.

Just can’t shake the idea when I return to brooklyn next week, mike will be gone, as the music takes him back on tour. He’ll be across the sea for europe and the uk for a month before being back in brooklyn for a week before going back out, across the US for 2 more months. It was amazingly hard to say goodbye today. Moving to brooklyn was supposed to make it easier but with his schedule it’s still so hard. I do completely understand and support him but I just wish the tours were shorter and closer to home, but I’ll stay strong.

knit em’ all

One of my closest friends made me a super soft cowl neck scarf for christmas.  It’s turning out to be a perfect gift, when mother nature allows the winter here to feel like winter.  She has made me some great scarfs and hats throughout the years and because of her, I am never left out in the cold.  She has an etsy shop so please visit it here. http://www.etsy.com/shop/KnitEmAll