Today we said goodbye to my grandmother, Darlene Catherine. When I think of her, I think of joy, laughter, spunk, and that sparkle she always had in her eye. Being one of twelve children, she naturally knew how to be the life of the party and bring energy into every room.

She introduced me to so many things that shaped who I am today. She’s the one who showed me Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Prairie, and Jane Eyre. I remember her taking me to The Met in New York City and sitting together in front of paintings for what felt like hours. She would point out the brush strokes and explain different art styles, and those moments sparked my love for beauty, creativity, and the stories behind old things.

She’s also the reason I love thrifting and antiquing. Some of my favorite memories are of the two of us walking through garage sales and estate sales, searching for treasures together.

Her home was always full of old artwork, tea sets, and little vintage pieces. In a lot of ways, I’ve recreated that in my own home without even realizing it. My love for vintage trinkets, old books, artwork, and pieces with history comes from her, and surrounding myself with those things reminds me of her.

She had a way of making her grandchildren feel seen and special. Whenever she visited, she brought a suitcase full of crafts, paints, and fun projects for all of us. She poured love into everything she made, especially the custom quilts she sewed for each grandchild. Mine is something I cherish so much.

Another memory that stands out is the time she surprised me with a little wedding dress she found. She told me, “As soon as I saw this, I thought of you.” It came with the cutest retro hat and veil. We had a tea party afterward, and I felt so loved and so thought of.

And then there’s the sleepover I’ll never forget. She came into the kitchen with her hot rollers in, music blasting, robe on, completely full of joy, and handed me ice cream for breakfast. I remember whispering that I was going to get in trouble, and she just said, “Don’t worry, I’ll deal with your dad. This is Grandma’s house.” That moment summed her up perfectly.

She always loved Josh too and would tease him about how handsome he was.

In her later years, dementia changed parts of her personality, which was painful to watch. But none of that erases the years of joy, creativity, and love she gave so freely.

I’m grateful for every memory.

I’m grateful for who she was.

And I’ll carry her with me always. 💛✨

Of course this is what the hell about ChatGPT I just told it all of my memories