{Oh, No}

It was a day for surprises. No one knew I was coming in from the southwest, and my mom thought it'd be a great idea to see our extended family's reactions. My aunt cried. My cousin was shocked. My grandpa didn't realize it was me at first. But my grandma's reaction was my favorite. 

I hovered outside the door, trying to stay out of sight, letting everyone else go in. Then, as she hugged one of my sibling, I stepped inside and just stood there. She looked above the shoulder of my sibling, up from the hug she was giving. 

And then she said, "Oh, no!!!!" 

I was a bit confused at first. Oh, no? Like she didn't really want me there? 

But she came and grabbed me, and for a person who's only eighty pounds, she squeezed me awful hard in a wonderful embrace. 

No, she was overwhelmed that I was there. I think she was saying to her eyes, "Oh, no! I don't believe it!" 

She started crying, and I teared up. I had been thinking about her a lot lately, and to see this amazing woman who is my grandma cry because she saw me, one of thirty-some grandkids, it kinda overwhelmed me too. 

I hated saying goodbye after only a few hours with her. Hated the fact that I wouldn't be able to hear her voice anymore. Wouldn't be able to see her wrinkled face crinkle into a grin, to hear her laugh about why anybody'd keep so many herbs in a cabinet when you could just use good old salt and pepper. To look at her aprons and hear her say about how sad it is that no one cares about the old things anymore. To talk with her about pots and pans. 

Simple little things. Things that make my Grandma my Grandma. Things I won't forget about her. 

That's why I have a picture of her in my kitchen. She taught me things that I was unconsciously learning as I grew up going to her house. To always put others first, even if it means you don't get to eat with them. That an apron is always a good idea, and the more the better. That just salt and pepper can make anything good. To make other people feel special, especially little ones, even if it's just by giving a hug. That you don't have to cook something fancy to make a meal special. It can just be chicken and dumplin's, but if you eat it with someone you love and you have good talks over it, it can be the best meal you ever ate. To read my Bible.  And, she taught me how to hand-mix biscuits without a recipe. 

I haven't mastered any of these things yet, but I hope that in the years to come, I take what she has taught me by example and become a woman she'd be proud of.  To become a woman like her, over-looked by many, but special to those who really count.