Drinkwater

this saturday i'll be driving to murrieta calif. for a "memorial" for my great grandma.
she died early this month. it was expected but i was only aware that this was expected like a week before.

This is Great Grandma with her youngest great great grandchild, addison, at 8 weeks old.

as a kid she was just the best. shes this icon for my family. in her nineties still sending birthday cards. in my birthday cards she'd always write a little blurb about what she was doing the day i was born. she always wrote on sticky notes inside as opposed to writing on the actual card... i think it was so we could reuse the card lol. love her.

when i stayed at her house as a young kid she'd steam me vegetables in these miniature pots and pans... they taste better when theyre cooked kid-sized, you know.

whenever we'd have a family event at her house (which always smelled STRONGLY of moth balls... and never bothered me... i didnt know that it was moth balls i smelled until i was older), great grandma drinkwater (her last name! seriously. it was so appropriate too) would promote eating healthy by ALWAYS having a spread of fresh strawberries, olives, grapes, apples, cottage cheese, hard-boiled eggs, and raw veggies. and if there was a birthday... an angelfood cake (fat free) with fresh strawberries on top.

my cousins and i always looked forward to the olives (you put one on each finger duh).

i'd also like to pass on some of great grandma's famous advice and wisdom.

1. read read read. books are the best gifts (i hope to continue her book giving in our family)

2. keep educating yourself. go to college. seriously... she'll come after you

3. don't dress "like a... a... a... whore!" (after seeing my 17 yr old cousin in her jeans ripped right below each back pocket)

4. only put clarins and este lauder on your skin

5. carter's is best for baby. softest she says. (she's been telling me that since before i had kids.. now i know she's SO RIGHT)

6. there is nothing wrong with giving good, over-sized underwear that you will grow into as a gift.
"good underwear is important."

7. exercise (she jazzercised in her 70's)

8. wear good, comfortable shoes.

9. write letters.

i'll miss her. and her angelfood cake with strawberries.

Mary Zenobia Shea Drinkwater
March 1, 1914-February 7, 2009

is survived by:
4 children,
8 grand children,
13 great-grand children, and
4 great-great-grand children

p.s. the reason we are having a "memorial" for her at my aunts house is because she donated her body to science so we don't really have her to do a funeral for. she so into education lol. she is so cool.