LaVerne

I'd like to tell you about my Grandma, LaVerne Farries.

When I was little, Grandma and Grandpa took me to Hood River for a train ride. The one thing I remember most about that day is that for a small part of the drive they let me ride in the trunk of the car. I asked to ride in the trunk because in Grandma's car I had an imaginary pet raccoon who lived in the trunk, and I talked to him through the middle section of the seatback that folded down. The train ride was really fun, especially riding in the caboose, but the best part was Grandma letting me ride with my raccoon in her trunk.

When I went to Grandma and Grandpa's house to spend the night, I got to do special things like eat Totino's pizzas for dinner, go to McDonald's for breakfast and watch Nickelodeon when I woke up in the morning. It's Grandma's fault that I have a weakness for sausage and egg McMuffins with cheese.

As I grew older, and after Grandpa was gone, I got to spend time with Grandma in other ways. Grandma enjoyed writing and wanted to record some family history. I had the honor of taking the family history she wrote down and typing it on the computer for her. Through her words, I learned more about my family and more about Grandma. When Grandma went to writing class but needed someone to drive her, I drove and went to class with her. I loved being part of a piece of her life that no one else really saw and being able to share an interest in writing with her.

While acting as her chauffeur, Grandma tried to teach me a lesson that my husband often reminds me of. You see, I'm the kind of driver who will often go the opposite direction to get someplace because I want to take the roads I'm most comfortable with, or because I don't want to turn left at certain intersections, or because I simply do not know where I'm going. When I was driving Grandma someplace in her car, I started to do this, and she quickly chided me and told me that it didn't make any sense to turn in the opposite direction of where you were trying to get to. She directed me on the right route to our destination. Grandma was always so practical.

Later on, when Grandma finally had to move out of her own house and start living in a retirement home, she and I would do puzzles together when I came to visit. I've never known anyone who loved jigsaw puzzles more than she did. I would give her a puzzle for Christmas sometimes, and the next time I came to see her, she would show me her finished product sitting on the table. I always marveled at the patience it took for her to spend all that time finding the right pieces for the right places. I wish I had that kind of focus.

During one of Grandma's moves from one retirement home to another, she and I sat in the lobby of her new residence while other family members were moving her things. We were looking at a book of photos together, photos of beautiful waterfalls around the world. That was one of the sweetest moments I spent with her because it was so quiet and peaceful sitting on the couch with my Grandma enjoying a beautiful book together. I am so glad that I sat down to keep her company instead of joining the others who were moving her things.

I am also grateful that I had the opportunity to see her one more time today before she died this evening. I love my Grandma and will treasure all my memories of her.