Tribute to An Amazing Lady
Elizabeth Jean Holland
August 13, 1936 - June 7, 2006
Many of you have met my grandmother before, whether at band practices, football games, family events, or otherwise. A lot of people have known her, without realizing the magnitude of character or how she had touched so many peoples' lives. You knew her as Grandma Betty, Chuck's mom, Mother, Charli's grandmother, daughter, friend. There will be no LJ cut for this; I refuse to shorten this memorial.
But for those of you who didn't know her...well, that's just a shame. I think that everyone should have met this funny, remarkable woman at least once, because she would have loved to meet all of you. She'd been with me for 21 years, unfailingly, and now, four months after her passing, I'm still wishing her a good night every night. I still cry when I catch her scent on an article of clothing, or a possession that I took into my own care.
So, here is a small tribute to one of my most favorite women in the world; one that I wish I could be more like; I suppose if I had to name a hero in my life, she would be one of them.
I have a lot of memories about my grandma, and a lot of stories that have been passed down by family members. Some of these tales are rather...legendary, you might say. Like the time my grandfather chased her around the house with a garter snake, and she pressed an iron to his face. Or the time she knocked him out with my Aunt Debra's doll.
Not to mention the time she got into a tussle with a nasty woman at a gas station and showed her who was boss. She was not a woman to be trifled with, and she didn't let people jerk her around. If you were doing something wrong, by God, she'd let you know it!
This is her, and her sister Loretta, my aunt. Aunt Loretta is gone now too, but I'm absolutely certain that they're together up there, playing Yatzee and making plenty of noise. Board games with Grandma were an event indeed. Wahoo, Yatzee, you name it, they became contact sports. They were SO much fun to play with.
The infant is my Aunt Debra, who passed when I was 14. She took after her mother so very much, it was uncanny. Tough, wily, and highly intelligent, neither of them took crap from anyone, especially men. ^_^
My grandmother, with Aunt Debra, and the handsome Charles Day, better known as Grandma Charlie. He was a cop, and was my grandmother's first husband out of three. They were close friends up until her death.
These three lovely ladies are, from the left:
Grandma Betty, my great grandma known to all as Nonny, and my Aunt Loretta. Nonny was their mother, and she's still alive and as spry as ever. She was very close to all her children, and I will never forget what she said to me once, only a few months before Grandma left us.
"I'm not ready to lose her, Charli. She's the only baby I have left."
It must have broken her heart, and I'm looking forward to seeing her again when Christmas rolls around.
Ah...now I'm sure all of you will recognize that handsome gentleman in the photo with Grandma and Aunt Debra. None other than Chuck Day, my dear ol' Dad. Dad lived with Grandma until he graduated high school and went into the oil fields, and was always a devoted son. While she was in the hospital, he was there for her, bringing her food and company, and making sure she was alright. It was extremely difficult for him to lose her; I can only imagine. I love ya, Dad.
The 1960s and 70s. Can I say more?
Here we have Grandpa Charlie and Grandma Betty at Aunt Debra's wedding.
Then, Grandma had her first grandchild in 1985. I wonder who that could be...
I was extremely close to my grandmother. Once, she had come to visit us when we were living in Michigan, and so attached was I, that I tried to zip myself in her suitcase so I could go on the flight back to Oklahoma with her! Thanks to her, I was instilled with a love of vinyl records, and Willie Nelson in particular. I used to spend the night at her house, and we'd play with her makeup and jewelry, and watch all sorts of movies. She introduced me to ramen noodles at very young age as well. Chicken flavor, but a spoonful of butter.
We used to ride the bus to town in Mount Pleasant, Michigan in Christmas, and once, we picked apples in the orchards together. Every year on my birthday, she would take me shopping, and let me pick out a few gifts. One year, I picked out a stuffed dog, which I promptly named "Floppy". Everyone remembers him; he's my favorite, and he's been with me ever since. Even here in California.
Me, my grandmother, and my mommy!
She was an avid sports fan, and I remember her distinctly having a fondness for the Atlana Braves and the Chicago Bulls. She worked at K-Mart, Brawms, and even did a stint as a security guard at a bowling alley and casino in my hometown of Shawnee, Oklahoma. Free bowling ftw!
She ADORED Harry Potter, and just loved Hagrid to pieces. Sadly, she never got to read the sixth book, but I'll let her know all about it some day, I promise. She loved clowns, and had some wonderful artwork of them in her homes.
For many years, she also had a llasa apso by the name of B.J., short for Betty Jean. She was a sweet little dog, and lived for a good long time.
There are so many wonderful memories, and so many wonderful times, and every day, I miss her terribly. No one will ever be able to replace her, and even still I'm having trouble coping with the fact that she is gone, and I'll never see her again. I can still hear her voice and her laughter in my head; I remember her happy and healthy and always there for me.
This wasn't much, and hardly does her memory justice, but...she'll be forever immortal in my mind.
I love you, Grandma.