Grandma Swanson

My dear Grandma Swanson passed away a week ago.  Stubborn, particular, frugal, concerned about what the world thought of her and her family, but she was also a great cook and there are many happy memories that she was a part of creating.  I am sad she is gone but that is a part of the circle of life and she did very well in hers and I think she was pleased with how her life turned out in the end.  With her passing it sort of feelings like that part of my life at Caribou Lake is now really gone.  They haven't had that house for 20 years but while she was still alive it was like I could go back there.  So of the many memories:
The smell of the boathouse and the apartment on top.  The sun shining in there to wake you up with the waves lapping against it.
Swimming in the lake and the rocky bottom and stepping on the rusty wheels to get back on the dock.  Catching sunfish off the end of the dock with the veggies left over from dinner. 
Grandpa making popcorn in the basement of the house
Watching Lawrence Welk, Wheel of Fortune, and Jeopardy in the living room with blue carpet.  The array of African Violets blocking the windows, Grandma and Grandpa falling asleep in their chairs with the clock that was constantly chiming.
Stubbing my pinky toe on the humidifier and breaking the nail in half (so much blood)
Sneaking candy from the 3 tier candy dish from the very blue kitchen.
Eating breakfast out of plastic bowls and glasses but Grandma would have lunches and dinners with the fine china, which I was always a kid there so I was at the kids table.
So many memories,  such good times even though she never let me win at a board game.  And you always figured the cousin was her favorite because that was all she talked about(only to find out she was doing the same thing to the cousin that figured we were the favorites).  It was who she was.  It was her character, take it or leave it, learn from it.  Love her

Everything worked out well in that I had spent a couple of weeks going to Duluth weekly, Karli came with me once and my aunt decided to come up for the last appointment for my Grandma so we got to spend some good time with her before she wasn't responding anymore.  On the last visit when we knew she was leaving us I stayed with my Auntie Doris and both of my children called me that night to see how I was doing.  I loved that.  I did raise compassionate kids!  Really I just loved my kids even more if that was possible, their compassion and attitude going to the funeral and what that is all about they were amazing.