I really enjoy shopping unless I am looking for a that perfect outfit that I need by tomorrow. I think my love of shopping comes from my grandmother, Granny. Granny would take me to the mall very often starting when I was a baby. I remember one time my grandfather, Papa, was going to cut up Granny’s credit cards. I’m not sure how old I was, but I knew that the credit cards were my key to shopping. I looked at Papa and said, “Oh, no Papa. Don’t cut up Granny’s credit cards” in about the sweetest voice I could muster. It worked.

I also remember being at the mall one time and spilling a whole chocolate milkshake down the front of my white shirt. I was mortified. Granny quickly took me to the closest store, and bought me a new shirt. She was my hero!

When I think back to my memories with Granny, I have some really great ones. I love eating at Red Lobster. When I was little, Granny would let me pick a meal off of the adult menu, and she would trade with me and eat the kid’s meal. We also had our own secret code. My mom would not let me outright ask to spend the night. So, Granny and came up with a code word that I could mention in a phone conversation for her to know that I wanted to spend the night. It usually involved food of some kind and sounded like this, “Granny, I sure am craving pancakes!” We were super sneaky!

Granny is also one of the funniest people I know. She has a cackle that puts the wicked witch of the west to shame. I would beg her to do it over and over. She also has the best, original teeth brushing song ever. And, I will never look at cat food or bird seed the same way again. (I’m not even going to explain those in order to protect the innocent).

Happy Birthday Granny! So many of my fondest memories include you. I am so blessed to have you as a grandmother.