My grandmother

Pat Pat (Parrish's maternal grandmother) is not doing very well right now, so I thought I'd put a tribute to her on the blog. She is currently living in an assisted living facility in Jacksonville, FL, where our quite capable cousins are taking care of her. We have called in Hospice to be with her as well, and it is a difficult time for all of us. I feel so blessed to have experienced what I believe was the best of Pat Pat, as she and I lived here in Andalusia together and I played "Driving Miss Daisy" for several months.

I was just thinking today how funny she really is. Here are a few (certainly not an exhaustive list) things I've learned from Pat Pat.

1) A good cup of tea with two cookies really will make you feel a lot better.

2) A scarf, pearl earrings and lipstick really do make you look prettier.

3) "It's snowing down South" means your slip is showing.

4) "You've got a swing in your backyard" means that you shake your booty when you walk.

5) "Something that sparkles on the tongue" is beer or perhaps a wine cooler, and yes, it really is just the thing when you're thirsty!

6) Loyalty to your family is mandatory, no matter what. (She was married for 63 years!)

7) Always try to negotiate the price of something, even if it's at Wal-Mart and it's clearly marked and they don't give discounts just because you're cute.

Pat Pat's favorite story to tell on Parrish was as follows:

"One day, I had a doctor's appointment. When I returned, there was little Parrish, sitting on my front steps waiting for me. He asked me if everything went ok at the appointment, and I said, Yes, I'm not going to kick the bucket yet. He replied, Pat Pat, when you kick the bucket, can I kick it with you?"

I could share hundreds of funny Pat Pat stories. I'm so glad I got to hear them and roll my eyes at the time, then laugh later when I relayed them to friends and family. I will miss her so much, but I know she is ready to be with Pa Pa again, and that makes us all happy.