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| My absolute favorite picture of Grammie |
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| Timmie at almost 3 years old |
I have so many memories of Grammie… The first time I ever flew by myself to California I was 5. I went there for a month, every summer, until I was 16 and still almost every year until she moved to Frederick, four years ago. Grammie was not your typical grey-haired grandmother. She did yoga. She stood on her head so he boobs wouldn't sag. She let me eat chicken wings, which my mother never let me eat, because she said they were bad for little girls (really she just didn't want to share). She would walk to the beach every morning, a four mile walk, starting at six in the morning. She drank straight tequila. She insisted that everyone needed eight hugs per day. She had always hated her name, Thelma, so she renamed herself Timmie. She refused to use a microwave. She blamed things on the Commies. She always wore bright colors, big costume jewelry and had fuchsia lipstick on her lips (and teeth). She nick-named me Juniper.
Grammie would take me for a trip every summer we would go on a mini-vacation up north. We would go to the Pink Bakery at Pismo beach and get pink meringues, we would tour Hearst Castle, eat at the Madonna Inn, and go visit her friend in Cambria and enjoy her cedar hot tub on the cool nights.
Grammie was never afraid to try anything and had a million friends. She did Scottish dancing and Greek dancing. She took me to see belly dancers and a Greek table dancer and got me finger cymbals so I could practice belly dancing at home. We would go to Santa Barbara and go to my favorite shop Paradise Lost and I would listen to meditation music and spend my money on essential oils and magical rocks.
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My Mom and Dad's wedding in 1964
Top: Jimmy, Gramma Gene (Dad's Mom) Dad, Mom Aunt Joan Grammie and Gramps
Bottom: Gramps, Grammie, Gramma Gene and Papa Vic |
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| Grammie, Me and Nonnie |
She knew everyone in her little town of Carpentaria. She volunteered in the historical museum, where there is a section devoted to her father Frank Bauhaus, who was a major pioneer in early aviation, as well as a skilled carpenter. Grammie would drive me around showing me all of the homes he built, many of which survived many earthquakes. Her mother, Nonnie was the postmistress of Carpenteria.
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| Grammie and me at Nonnie's Birthday |
I could write a book of all the memories, I am so glad I have them. I was fortunate to have such a free-spirited, unique grandmother and glad she got to meet Brent and my babies and so glad we went to say goodbye before she left.
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| Nonnie and Grammie |
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| Grammie and one of her best friends, Jen |
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| Thanksgiving 2012 |
