The Adventures of the Hicklin Family: My Gran

I thought I'd write a post in honor of my Grandmother, whom I called Gran. She was also know as: Marita, Marteeeder, Gran, GG, Mom. :) She was as a friend, mother, wife, Grandmother, Great grandmother and the "Matriarch" of our family. NOTHING could get past my Gran. If something happened...she ALWAYS knew!
First, my favorite picture of Gran and me together. This was taken in Naples, FL on my Granddaddy's boat. This has always been my favorite:

Since I was a baby, Gran has been my hero. She is the quintessential Southern Lady and taught me to be "refined and lovely", which I naturally have swayed from a few times in my life, but still strive for! :) I always felt safe and secure with her beside me. Once I was old enough to fly alone, I spent a few weeks during the summers in Louisville with her and my Grandaddy. My two favorite memories include:
1. Going to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington and her letting me ride a horse ( on a TRAIL!!!). This was such a thrill and something I'll never forget. She always splurged for me and I was always grateful! (I was her ONLY Granddaughter....not spoiled at all! No, not me!)
2. We went on a AAA tour together to Branson, Missouri. Yes, on a bus with a bunch of "old" people (even Gran said so back then!). We had a BLAST! Playing cards on the bus, seeing Shoji Tabuchi---a "famous" violinist/fiddle player and having her telling everyone on the bus I could go up and play with him,and her "medicine bottle" that came out around 5 in the evening. :) Those are memories I'll never forget and that we laughed about for ages!
More memories stem from Naples, FL where my grandparents spent most winters at their condo. I remember having "girls lunches" with my Mom and Gran while the boys were either playing golf or out on the boat deep sea fishing. Gran always made me feel so special to be out with her and Mom. I remember their first condo (which is across from their current condo)....I barely remember this place, but I distinctly remember the spinning chairs at the kitchen table and sitting and chatting with her. Probably playing some game or watching her cook. She made the BEST Benedictine! (A Kentucky cheese spread made of cream cheese, cucumbers and onion...YUMMM!!!). You can't buy Benedictine that tastes as good as Gran's did...and there was ALWAYS some in the refrigerator when I showed up to visit. Chance? I think not! (There goes the spoiled only grand daughter again!).
Oh there are so many wonderful memories. I still go to the store and when I have to get noodles, I write down "nudes", that's what we called them, I got a nice chuckle out of that the other day!

She always made me feel special. In college she made the trip up to see my senior recital. She always LOVED to hear me play. She was so proud and I had to bring my violin to every visit to Louisville or Naples! As a final farewell, I played her favorite "Ave Maria" at her funeral Mass. I hope she was smiling down from heaven....probably bragging to her bridge buddies that she has reconnected with!

Gran loved her grand kids! She bragged about every one of us! But...we took a backseat when the GREAT grand kids came along! Oh, how she loved them! Naturally, they did no wrong. I know they will always have fond memories of her as well. James and Mia will no doubt never forget how she saved her quarters from her "winnings" at bingo at the nursing home to hand out to them when they came to visit. She loved those kids and it was fun to see her watch them in awe. It gives me peace to know that my Gran is now in heaven with my two angels.

Catholic. Gran was through and through a completely devout Catholic. We always went to Mass when I would visit. She had the strongest faith of anyone I know. She lived it. In everything that she did. Even when her body would not allow her to physically go to Mass, she still watched it from home (or the nursing home) on TV. She never missed a week.

Another funny thing about Gran is she ALWAYS had an opinion on my hair. And as she got older, she had NO PROBLEM telling me what she thought of it. She liked it short. SO---I always made sure that before I headed up to Louisville to see her, I made it in to get my hair done. :)

The last few years when I visited her in Kentucky, we would play Rummikub. She taught me to play it and it became "our game". One time she even called me a "little sh*t" after I beat her!!!! I rolled on the floor laughing because that was probably the first time I ever heard her say a "bad" word. And now she's probably rolling in her grave that I just announced it on my blog!!!

Not a day goes by that something doesn't remind me of my Gran. She was the most wonderful, spiritual, amazing woman you could ever meet. Everyone loved her and respected her. I hope that I can be half the woman she was. I love you, Gran.

Below, Mom, Gran, me and Aunt Mary Ann. All wore pink, totally by chance. :)