For Esther:

Things I've Learned From My Grandmother

1. "Stogging," which is the action of mixing foods that don't realistically mix (adding milk to chili for example), is frowned upon when one is 11 years old, but at 25 it means you're in charge of making dinner.

2. The action of dropping something off whilst someone is napping and not waking them to say hello is absolutely unforgivable.

3. No matter how good your red sauce is, it's never as good as your Grandmother's.

4. Even if you could care less about the content of the book, being read to isn't a bad way to spend an afternoon.

5. Not only spiders can climb walls.

6. The world's easier to laugh with than it is to frown upon.

7. Someday is not Sunday, no matter how much you might hope it is.

8. The Candy Man hides his treats somewhere, but that place is out of reach when you're six and out of comprehension when you're going on 30.

These things, as trivial as they might seem, are what form the relationship I had with my grandmother. If you don't understand some of them, that's ok, she just hadn't gotten to tell you the stories behind them yet, but I'm sure she would have. They would have been funny, honest, and charming, just like she was. I promise.

Walt? John David? George? Look out guys, she's coming to you now. Cherish her company as much as we have.