i bet when i leave my body for the sky, the wait will be worth it

this past august marked 5 years since my nana monicas passing. i still talk to her daily and i can tell she's listening, because a few months ago, i was going through a particularly hard time with work and finances- i was visiting my parents one night and randomly started sorting through things in our basement when i opened an old jewelry box of mine from when i was younger. inside i found a pink envelope with my name written on it in her handwriting, and when i turned it over, i realized it was still sealed. inside the envelope was an easter card, dated 2 months before she was diagnosed with cancer; 5 months before she passed away...and inside the card were the words "all my love, nana monica" and a check for $100. i know it doesn't sound like much, but it was...

i think of her every day and smile, so todays post is a dedication to the memory of her. nana, these are a few of the things that remind me of you...

• bright red hair (but more specifically, a shade of red that isnt found in nature)
• old black and white movies
• deep belly laughs that shake your whole body but are almost completely void of sound
• spontaneous curse words inserted into unexpected sentences
  example: "those damn flowers are so pretty, arent they?"
• bejewled sweaters for every occasion, but especially christmas
• flamboyant costume jewelry, most likely from avon
• floral upholstery in every shade of pink
• the sound of frank sinatra
• playing poker with pennies
• calling out every sign on the road as we drive by & following that with a comment of some sort
  example: "toyota? oh, they have nice cars. stewarts? i used to know a guy that worked at a stewarts once. the flower shoppe? i wonder how much their hydrangeas are... the olive garden? i like that broccoli cheddar soup they've got."
• acts of kindness to complete strangers
• everybody loves raymond re-runs
  "everybody really does love raymond, dont they?"
• mauve nail polish (again, most likely from avon)
• this poem:
  After Glow, by Helen Lowrie Marshall
  I'd like the memory of me
  to be a happy one.
  I'd like to leave an afterglow
  of smiles when life is done.
  I'd like to leave an echo
  whispering softly down the ways,
  Of happy times and laughing times
  and bright and sunny days.
  I'd like the tears of those who grieve,
  to dry before the sun.
  Of happy memories that I leave
  When life is done.

all my love,
katie