The Rest of the Story...

At Mema's graveside service last month, I was commenting to my cousins that I had forgotten to include so many things in the tribute I wrote for her. Like how she and Gran had grapevines growing in their backyard...how she would stand in their tiny kitchen for hours canning homemade grape jam. We used to stand under the hanging vines with her, biting into the dark grape skins until the sweet insides burst into our mouths. The bees loved the grapes as well and sometimes one would mistake Mema's lips for a grape. She wouldn't scream and run or even shoo it away. "It's just kissing my lips," she'd say gently as the bee danced around her mouth drinking the sweet grape juice on it. This memory seared clearly into my mind...probably because I was terrified that the bees were going to think it was open season on my lips too! :)

But the story I wanted to share most of all was one about the beach. It's my last memory of being at the beach with Mema...I think maybe I was in high school so perhaps she was in her 70s. Anyway, at least one day while we were there Mema decided that she wanted to go in the water. We were at Nags Head where the water is always cold and the current and waves are often rough. Mema was always up for an adventure, so despite the rough seas and with my Mom and Uncle Monk's help she joined us past the breakers. I don't remember exactly how it happened, whether the undertow got too strong or whether a rogue wave broke too close to us, but all of a sudden there was a bunch of whooping and hollering as they almost lost her in the surf. And by "they" I mean Uncle Monk...my mother was too busy laughing hysterically to be of any help! There were probably a few calls for assistance, a bit of a struggle, and LOTS of howling laughter, but they finally managed to get her to shore again. I love this story because it completely sums up the beauty and the heart of our family...always sticking together, always finding joy, humor, and fun even in the most harrowing of life's moments. That humid July morning as we stood by Mema's grave I remarked that I wished we had a picture of that day.

A couple of days later as I was preparing for our Sunset Beach trip, I was in Finn's closet looking for something when I spied a stack of photos in a basket on his dresser. I picked up the stack and there it was...

Do you see her?

There she is...jumping the waves with us...probably letting out the occasional "Woooooooo!" as she is lifted over an especially tall one.

I stood in the closet and smiled through my tears and thanked God for the unexpected blessing of this perfectly captured moment with my Mema. Then I ran outside as fast as I could to show Joey. We looked through the rest of the photos and some were just too good not to share...some of Mema and some of some kids with awful hair 'dos and bell bottoms. :)

All dressed up for Mema and Gran's 45th Wedding Anniversary Party

(Allison, Becky, ME, Heather, and Jennifer)

Mema and Gran with all their grandchildren

Me and Mema at Thanksgiving

Mema and Gran sharing a good laugh

Mema and Gran at Mema's infamous "Best Christmas Ever!" Those of you who were there know what I mean. :)

One of my favorite dress-up outfits (age 5)

Me in front of our Charlie Brown Christmas tree with Raggedy Ann and Leslie...check out the pants!

Christmas at Mema and Gran's...the year I got my Pound Puppy! The blue robe behind me is Mema...she wore that robe all the time...probably till it fell apart or Mom and Aunt Sue threw it away. :)

Christmas 1985 at Mema and Gran's

Me and Cousin Ashley...I thought I was the coolest in my new sweater vest thing!

Me, Aunt Brenda, and Jennifer at Ashley's ECU Cheerleading tryouts...Brenda looks like she's 15!

Me and Leslie with my dollhouse

My 5th birthday

This was the only year my mother didn't make my birthday cake...I wanted Smurfette so our next-door neighbor, Jean Jean the Dancin' Machine as my dad called her, made it for me. As cute as this one was, I still liked my mom's cakes better...homemade cakes for birthdays are VERY important to me...just ask Joey. :)

I have NO idea where I am, but I am wearing my most favorite outfit made by my Aunt Brenda! It was Hawaiian print, had one button on the back of the shirt, and I thought it was the best thing EVER! I think I wore it till it fell apart!

Thanksgiving Dinner in Farmville

(I think this was the year we all went and rode horses and go-carts at Trey Peaden's house!)