Patsy

This week we had an unexpected trip to Texas. Almost as soon as we got home from Philly, we received a call from Brad’s uncle telling us that Brad’s grandmother Patsy had passed away. I think we were both in shock when we heard … anyone that met Patsy knew that she was so full of life, we were expecting to have her with us for a long time to come.

So, we went to Texas and we mourned and it was so easy to think of all the things we had lost. But rather than focusing on what we lost, we're trying to focus on what we did have and how lucky we were to have it...

We had an amazing grandmother who (much to her chagrin) never got to be called “grandma” (I don’t know why, but Brad and Todd had called her "Patsy" since they were young, so I always just did the same).

We have amazing memories of her at our wedding. Seeing how proud she was of Brad, seeing how happy she was to have her family together and proudly telling everyone that she was the “matriarch” of the family. And, of course, the memory of her hitting the dance floor with Brad and some of the groomsmen.

Brad has lifetime of memories of holidays filled with Patsy’s laughter and love and cooking. I have memories of being welcomed in to a new family with open arms and Patsy cooking me vegetable feasts even though, as a true Texan, she probably couldn’t believe her grandson had married a vegetarian!

We have memories of playing cards and her calling Brad “satchel-ass” when he dared to beat her in a hand. I still have no idea what a satchel-ass is, but I call Brad it every once in a while just for fun.

Mostly, we remember her unconditional love. Her feistiness and adventurous spirit. Her giving nature and ability to make everyone feel comfortable around her. Her fierce love and protection of her family and her friends.

We’ll all truly miss her but I’m comforted by a story that her pastor told. He said that after she had fallen one day and injured herself, he told her that she needed to slow down a bit. I can totally picture her retort when apparently she said, “no, I’m not going to slow down … if I have to slow down, I’d rather go home to Tom Frank.”

Slowing down just wasn't her style - she wanted to live life to the fullest and enjoy every bit of it. And so she did. She never had to slow down or suffer. She left us on her terms and with love and memories to last throughout our lifetimes.

While we were in Texas, I kept picturing that Big Daddy had been waiting (probably not very patiently!) for the past few years in heaven. Waiting for her to come and cook him one of her fabulous breakfasts or for them to take a spin around the dance floor. I know she's happy to be back by his side and she is smiling down on us everyday. We'll miss you Patsy.