Today has been an incredibly long day. We buried my grandmother today and for the first time in my life I do not have any grandparents. I am 40 years old and I do not have grandparents. I have been incredibly blessed in my life to have always had grandparents. I had a Granddaddy and Grandmomma (my dad's parents), a Granny and PaPa (my mom's parents), a Mammie and
Pa Channel (my dad's grandparents), a MoMo and Pa Penney (my dad's other set of grandparents), and a Grandma Penney (my dad's great-grandmother). Most people I know don't have this so I have always been very aware that I should not take them for granted. I have learned so much from all of them and I can't imagine my life being what it is now if not for them.

Some things I've learned from my Granny and PaPa: how to work hard; that you don't need money to make it in life; to always share what you have; that no matter how many kids/grandkids/friends/relatives you have there is always room for more - from my Granddaddy and Grandmomma: that grandparents will give in when parents won't; that there's always time to relax and have fun; that you can find good in every situation - from my Mammie and Pa Channel: that fun is just a laugh away; that great-grandmothers like wrestling; that it's never too late in life to do what you want to do; and you're only as old as you let yourself be - from my MoMo and Pa Penney: that grandparents will do anything for you; that playing in the sand is a wonderful thing; that you can eat some of the green weeds you find on the side of the road; and you're never too old to miss somebody - from my Grandma Penney: how to grow old gracefully; how to be at peace with your surroundings.

One of the most wonderful things I experienced in having all of these grandparents I didn't realize until later in my teenage years. My parents always visited, shopped for, did laundry for, taxied around, sat with, etc. for all of my grandparents and others who weren't even related to us. As a child I hated going to the nursing home. It seems that there has always been a relative or family friend that was in one. Little did I know that I was being taught lessons for later in life. My parents have taught me the importance of loving others, caring for others, being patient with others, and stepping in to help even when you might rather do something else. Those nursing home and hospital visits, doctor appointments, grocery store runs, Sunday lunches, etc. taught me to be patient, kind, tolerant, open-minded, giving, cheerful, and a host of other qualities. As a grown woman I have been privileged to witness several of my grandparents leave this world and enter Heaven. Those moments have been some of the most beautiful I have ever experienced. Had I been afraid of death or old age I might have missed it. But because of the example they showed I was rewarded by being a part of the life and death of so many that I love.

Not a day goes by when I don't think of at least one of my grandparents. They're always with me - their memory and the lessons I learned. Though I feel a tremendous emptiness right now I know that we'll all be together again. I also know that, because of the love and values that have been passed down from generation to generation, our world is a better place. I only hope that I can pass this legacy to my children and that they will embrace all our family has stood for through the years.