We went to Kansas this weekend for the funeral. I knew it would be hard whenever she left us. My beautiful Grandma now only lives in my heart and my memories. She was such a special lady. When we were riding back to John's last night - I heard the new Brad Paisley song "Waitin on a Woman" It made me smile and made me tear up because it made me think of Grandma - who did everything in her own time. She couldn't be rushed. She stayed up late and slept in late. The last verse makes me think of Grandpa being so excited as he sees her walk up to him after he has been waiting to see her again for so long. I know she would be happy that the family is getting together twice within the next few weeks. I never really thought that she would be gone so quickly but we'll live our lives knowing she is still there celebrating with us. Her creativity is instilled in us. Her love and wisdom show us examples of how we should live.
"Waitin' On A Woman"
Sittin' on a bench at West Town Mall
He sat down in his overalls and asked me
You waitin' on a woman
I nodded yeah and said how 'bout you
He said son since nineteen fifty-two I've been
Waitin' on a woman
When I picked her up for our first date
I told her I'd be there at eight
And she came down the stairs at eight-thirty
She said I'm sorry that I took so long
Didn't like a thing that I tried on
But let me tell you son she sure looked pretty
Yeah she'll take her time but I don't mind
Waitin' on a woman
He said the wedding took a year to plan
You talk about an anxious man, I was nervous
Waitin' on a woman
And then he nudged my arm like old men do
And said, I'll say this about the honeymoon, it was worth it
Waitin' on a woman
And I don't guess we've been anywhere
She hasn't made us late I swear
Sometimes she does it just 'cause she can do it
Boy it's just a fact of life
It'll be the same with your young wife
Might as well go on and get used to it
She'll take her time 'cause you don't mind
Waitin' on a woman
I've read somewhere statistics show
The man's always the first to go
And that makes sense 'cause I know she won't be ready
So when it finally comes my time
And I get to the other side
I'll find myself a bench, if they've got any
I hope she takes her time, 'cause I don't mind
Waitin' on a woman
Honey, take your time, cause I don't mind
Waitin' on a woman
What a wonderful trip we had up to Kansas this last week! When we got up there on Wednesday, we went to Jared and got my ring cleaned. By then Julie and Doug were in town and we all met up at the hotel. We went to Bob Evans to eat and then went over to Applebees to visit with Mom, Dad, Jill, and Marilyn. Thursday, we had Carol's bridal luncheon and then celebrated Mom's 60th birthday. Friday, Jill, John and I went with Carol to get her make-up done and then went to the Plaza to Winsteads to eat. 
Winstead's is where my grandparents were when they heard about Pearl Harbor. It is also the place where Julie and I thought Mom and Dad had their first date though now they are trying to change their story on that!! After a classic burger and shake it was off to the hotel to change and head to the hawaiian wedding. It was a cool evening and a beautiful wedding on the lake. It was fun to visit with all the family!! Saturday we had a family reunion out at Tim's complete with swimming, football, volleyball, photos and more!! We stayed til 1:30am talking and goofing around. Yesterday we all had breakfast at Grandma's and John and I left to come home. Julie and Doug flew out earlier that morning. It was so hard to leave knowing that this won't ever happen again. All of us cousins won't all be hanging out at Grandma's....The way it looks now will be way different- Grandma's perfectly placed treasures won't be there...even if I do end up making another trip there in the next year. It's different now. Grandma is gone. An era has ended. I miss Grandma so much. She would have loved all the festivities.... I looked around trying to memorize every part so it stays ingrained in my memories....the smells...the decor....all the heirlooms....the house full of all the family...the family tree... John was really sweet trying to get me to stop crying as we drove away talking about making new memories with what will be our family... I wonder if it will be possible to try to get all the cousins together every 5 or 10 years....Several said they might make the trip down for our wedding, which would be fun if they do... Surely with that much notice we can try to put something together....Whether it is back to Kansas, up to DC, down to Texas....or a cruise or something else entirely....I guess it's just a matter of want to.... Sigh...So many wonderful things ahead....but I don't want to let go of my wonderful memories....Part of me is still that little girl that loved making graham cracker cookies with Grandma, playing cards with Grandpa and pool/ping pong with the cousins in the basement.....sifting through games my mom grew up with and playing with the player piano.......swinging on the front porch swing....looking at photographs....trying on Grandma's jewelry....hiding out from the grown ups...Don't make me go....not yet.....
