When I was young, Memorial Day always meant a trip to the cemetery where my grandpa Seipert was buried in a town about 30 miles from where I grew up. We would take flowers (always yellow gladiolas because that is what my grandma wanted him to have). I have always associated this day with remembering loved ones who are no longer with us. Today, I am thinking of a couple of people that I was blessed to know in my life that have passed away.
My grandma, Frances Seipert, was my dad's mother.
She was the only grandparent that I knew because my mom's parents and my grandpa Seipert had passed away before I was born. Grandma Fritz, as we called her, was a special lady. She and grandpa had 4 boys, and she would tell everyone that she met about her 4 boys. She was so proud of them. My grandpa died at the age of 52, and my grandma had to go to work to support herself. She worked at Woolworth's and JC Penney and had to be on her feet all day. Her life wasn't easy after grandpa died, but she didn't complain.
My grandma lived in California when I was little, so I only got to see her once or twice a year. When I was 14, she moved to Idaho to be near us and we became very close. My grandma was a funny lady. She would tell a joke and if you were sitting next to her, she would tap you on the leg to make sure you got the joke! She had beautiful long fingernails which she always painted herself, and she liked to go get her hair done. My grandma loved the San Francisco 49ers (especially Joe Montana), french fries, hard peppermint candy, and "just a little wine" with her dinner. She developed dementia in her later years and when she wanted to call my dad at work, she would just dial 911 because he was a police officer. Made sense to her! :) She lived over 30 years after my grandpa died, and she missed him every day. She always said that he was the only one for her. I know she is with him now.
Colin's brother Paul passed away 4 years ago.
Paul was older than Colin by 2 years, and he was born with Prader-Willi Syndrome. It is a mental and physical handicap. I first met Paul after Colin and I had been dating about a month and a half and he took me home to meet his family over Thanksgiving. I already loved Colin by this time, but I have to say I loved him a little more after seeing how sweet he was to his brother.
Colin's mom told me that Paul always wanted a sister- instead, he got Colin. So Paul was thrilled when I married into the family. He finally had a sister. One time I was there visiting and we were getting ready to go to breakfast. I was the last one to get ready and I heard Paul say that he was hungry and wanted to go eat. Colin's mom told him "Paul, you are going to have a sister now and sometimes they take longer to get ready." I didn't hear him complain anymore after that. Paul's smile could melt anyone's heart. Paul would never be able to drive, so after Colin got his driver's license, he would take Paul in the car and go for a drive, just the two of them. Paul would never be able to get married, but he was able to be a part of our wedding. Paul loved The Brady Bunch, The Beach Boys, and all birthdays and holidays (or any cause for a celebration), where good food was involved! He loved his doggie niece and nephew and they loved their uncle Paul. We love and miss our brother!
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