As I sit here trying to think about what to say on paper about you stories flood through my head. It is hard to organize my thoughts, I guess that too proves my point about apples. So much of who I am has been through watching and listening to you. I have been trying to prepare myself for the time I would have to say, "good-bye." You have not remembered who I was for a long while now. But, knowing that now I cannot see you, spend time with you, or have my children enjoy your company has been a challenge. Sitting and listening to your service yesterday it was confirmed with blessed assurance that we will be together again!Throughout my life from the day I was born we have always had a special bond. I could sit and watch you for hours. Whether it be sitting with you watching you read on the back patio or table, leaning over from the table bench and watching you prepare food, crafting with you, collecting with you, or even sharing opinions with you. Many times throughout my life I have turned to you knowing you would tell me like it was and not sugar coat the truth about what I needed to hear.
Spending one-on-one time with you are the moment and memories I will cherish for a lifetime. One of my most earliest full memories I shared with you was when I was about 6 years old. I have earlier ones but this one I remember clearly. It started one evening when I was sitting on the couch with my Uncle Perry "Peya" and soon to be Aunt Angie; they asked me if I wanted to be in their wedding. I was proud but VERY scared at the same time. I was so shy but I said, "Ya I want to do it!" Not long after that moment my Gra'ma came out with this clear plastic garment bag. She said, "Now this bag is special!" I said, "Oh what is it!" "You'll see, You'll see" she answered. First, she pulled out this white dress...it was my Mom's wedding dress...then she pulled out a yellow dress with tiny white polka-dots. She said, "this is the dress I want to show you. This dress was your Momma's prom dress." She said, "we are going to change this dress and it will be your flower girl dress!" I did not understand, she had me try it on, pinned it, cut it, and sewed it and never used a pattern it was a pattern she formed in her head. She took one piece to make another piece and just continued to embellish the dress to make it the perfect fit and personalized it just for me! I just thought it was the most amazing thing I had ever seen and I felt like I was the most beautiful little girl in this dressed made special for only me!
Another memory was when I was older around 9 years old, I think. We lived away from my Grandparents because my Dad was in the US Army and that meant we would live out of state or even out of the country for long periods of time. Well, we moved closer and we were older so my grandparents wanted to take us to spend sometime with each of us throughout the summer. My brother had the first visit because my grandparents came to pick him up and then we drove to Phoenix and they pick him up and left me in Phoenix. During that summer I was able to learn about many different hobbies my Gra'ma had and she decided to share them with me. First, she taught me how to play Parcheesi! I asked everyone to play with me. I am sure Gra'ma, Ben, Stewart, and Aunt Dee-Dee regretted her teaching me because that is all I wanted to do after I swam all day. Then, in between swims and Parcheesi, she taught me to sew a pillow. I was able to go through her fabric and choose anything I wanted. I sewed the squares and half triangles together, she added the ruffle and then she had me embellish it by adding the hand-stitched x's around all the pieces. I was proud of my hard work. In the evenings, we spent time sharing with me all bout stamp collecting. She shared with me about how her Daddy helped her know how to collect different stamps. She started me on my very own stamp collection. I helped her wet, peel, sort, stick and identify different stamps she had saved for years. She had bags and bags of stamps to sort and if she had two I got the second one to add to my collection of my own. I still have the collection and have added to it. Not long after that we started spending summers camping in the White Mountains. That brought our memories to a whole new level.
Now, to get to the apples...I have a talent that I am sure is due to her. I love music! I sing, sing, sing! (Now, I am not saying it is the Best, but what I am saying is I love to do it!) She went to Wartburg College and majored in Music and Education. I went to Northern Arizona University and majored in Education and minored in Music. (FYI...we both struggled with the music classes) We both loved to sing in church! It was an honor to go to college, graduate, and share similar passions for singing and children with her. When I first began teaching she would come into my classroom and read and dress-up like characters for my student according to my monthly themes my students looked forward to this. I spent many evenings listening and singing songs with her hearing all of the music she enjoyed! She also came to almost all of my Choral singing performances I had at NAU. She loved going!
We spent many nights crafting. We made noodle choir angels when I was in college. During all of these crafting, collecting, singing, or putting together a giant puzzle in a quiet moment there was always a story to tell. She had so many stories. When I graduated college and moved in with my grandparents for about a little over a year she began writing this book of stories. She put all of her stories and stories family had told her into actual written word. She spent days, weeks, months, years filling these books. She compiled one about her family in Wishek and then she wrote stories about the Anderson's and the life she lived. She even took pictures and placed captions with the pictures to go along with the stories. Boy, are they big books. After I moved out I would visit one or two nights a week. She would pull out the books and have me read another section of the book. I mean she wrote every story she could think of happy, sad, good, bad, boring, or ugly. She wrote about it all. I was amazed!
My Gra'ma is also the person who was the birdie in my ear who convinced me to give my now husband Juan a chance. And, "Well, I married him 4 years later." My Grandpa was too sick to attend my wedding, it was just too much so I took all of the presents and cake leftovers they could share in a part of our wedding.
To be almost 40 years old and to say I still had grandparents was truly special. I will treasure each moment and memory for a lifetime. I love how I was able to live with you for long periods of time between my Dad's duty stations. We were able to share these special times and I know that this was why it was not a problem for you to allow me to live with you when I was finishing my student teaching and starting my first year of teaching. I share many similarities with you through the years, starting with the way I look, interests, and hobbies. Thank you for sharing your stories and passions with me so I am able to share those moments with my children.
I do not have photos of every memory shared with you. Daily I find more and then more memories fill my head. Maybe one day when I am older I will sit and write them all down. Because afterall, we all know "Apples don't fall far from trees!"
Until we meet again, For now you are singing with the chorus of angels...
All my Love,
Your First Grand-Daughter
Shawn Marie King Espinoza
No comments:
Post a Comment