Grandma Anderson

Today in church I saw an older lady that reminded me of my Grandma Anderson.  It wasn't so much how she looked but it was her countenance.  Grandma always had that sense of peace, wisdom, and inner strength.  At least that's how I remember her.  

Some of my earliest memories include going to Friends church.  She was a Sunday school teacher.  I remember being in her class and doing different activities.  She used to have bible characters made of felt that stuck to a board.  I also remember going to VBS at Friends in the summer. 

She always had a garden when I was a kid.  Fresh green beans and corn remind me of my Grandma.  There are all kinds of food memories.  Black-eyed peas, rice with gravy, Grandpa using chop sticks, chocolate chip cookies, Amos and Matt licking the top of the ice-cream before putting it in the freezer, Hot Cocoa, maple walnut cake, cauliflower, fig jam, canned everything, fresh lemonade, rectangular boxed ice cream from Stater Brothers, hot dogs split down the middle and cooked in a skillet, fluffy omelets with Jack cheese.

I remember her picking me up from Park View elementary in her Blue VW Bus.  The smell of that VW bus was so distinctive.  A part of me would love to own a VW Bus.  That smell sticks with you, the pinging of the motor, the sliding of the side door, and the Jesus sticker on the back window.

I loved to listen to her tell stories about the family.  All the boys and the trouble that they would get into or the adventures they would have.  She would always go through the list of "the boys" names: Carey, Tim, Kevin, Matthew, Amos, until she got to the right one.  I only have three girls and I do the same thing now. 

Christmas day at her house was always great.  When I was a kid the big long socks had the best stocking gifts.  Usually lots of practical items plus some cool random gadgets.

The birthday songs were always fun.  The Andersons had a second birthday song that they sang "For it's a happy happy birthday to you."  This has spread to my mom's side of the family.  It always put a smile on my face to hear them sing this too.

Grandma was always a great listener and always knew what to say.  She would break into song when it fit the moment.  She was a rock.  The Anderson foundation.  My dad and uncles are and were so unique. The influence of my grandparents was evident in their lives.  Grandpa Anderson was always great with me, but I know that he was hard on my uncles when they were growing up.  Grandma was the yin to his yang.  

I will always miss my Grandma and will forever be grateful for her love in my life.