Verma B. Morris

It's been two weeks since my precious Granny went home to be with our Savior. I haven't been able to wrap my head around the words I want to say about her. I wanted it to be perfect. I still have dreams about her every night. Then every morning I want to jump in my car and drive to the nursing home to see her. Just to hug her. Just to visit with her. Just to watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy with her. Just to talk to her one more time. But, she's not there. No, she's with Jesus and there's not enough selfishness in the world for me to wish her back here. 

My Granny was so very special to me. She practically raised me. While most middle school girls spent Saturday nights having sleepovers with friends, I had sleepovers with my Granny. We'd watch Diagnosis Murder and Keeping Up Appearances every night. We'd both try to talk like Hyacinth Bucket and felt sorry for poor Richard. Some times, we'd even pop in a Shirley Temple or a Ma & Pa Kettle movie if we needed something else to watch. 

She'd always get me to paint her toenails for her and every time I'd ask to paint them red, so one night she finally let me. At her foot doctor appointment the next week, she got in trouble for the red nail polish. The doctor told her she should keep me around, but to stick to light colors. Ha! 

When I was little, I was practically Granny's shadow. If my Mama couldn't find me, I was usually at Judy and Granny's. Everything they did I wanted to do. She's the reason I'm a diet coke and coffee addict today. I was probably 3 years old drinking her cold coffee. And, she always drank diet coke so that's what I drank, too. 

Her and my Aunt Judy were quite the pair. They took me on every road trip they possibly could. I remember one summer we took a trip to Savannah, then over to Charleston. Aunt Judy got such a good deal on the room we stayed at in Charleston, that she decided we'd stay two extra nights! I missed the beginning of my Summer Art class because of that and my Mama was not happy! ha! We'd go all over creation, the three of us. It was always a treat to be able to go to Augusta and eat with Granny and Judy! We'd usually have to share something, but I didn't care! 

Looking at Christmas lights was a well kept tradition for us, too. Judy would always drive and get so excited about the lights! She'd tell us to look, then she'd say "Oh, you missed it! Pay attention!" Granny would say "Keep your eyes on the road, Judy! Keep your eyes on the road!" She'd always come back with "I am, Mama! I am!" If you ever needed to laugh, all you had to do was hang out with those two for a while. 

When I was little, I had "Pilly." Instead of carrying around a blanket, I carried a pillow. It was a disgusting thing because I wouldn't let anyone wash it because then it wouldn't smell or look like pilly anymore. I wasn't a dramatic child at all. I slept with it every.single.night. One day while I was at school, Granny washed it. I was SO upset with her that I cried. CRIED. Over a pillow. She wanted me to get rid of it, but the only way she got me to throw it away was that she and Judy both bought me cute, new pillows. When I threw it away, I cried...again. I didn't know it at the time, but my sweet Mama grabbed it up and saved it for me. And thankfully, I still have pilly to this day. 

My Granny could SANG. I never got tired of hearing her, or her and my Daddy sing together. I've always wished I could sing like she did. She sang an old gospel song called "I've got More to Go to Heaven for Than I Had Yesterday." The chorus goes like this: 

THERE'S A GOLDEN STREET TO WALK UPON, A BELL I'M GONNA RING

A BRAND NEW ANGEL IN THE CHOIR, I WANNA HEAR HER SING

THERE'LL BE A LOT OF FRIENDS AWAITING WHEN I WALK THRU THE GATE

AND I'VE GOT MORE TO GO TO HEAVEN FOR THAN I HAD YESTERDAY.

Every time Granny would sing it, she would pretend to "ring" a bell. It was the cutest thing. 

Truthfully, I could go on and on telling stories or great things about my Granny, but you'd all get tired of reading them. My Granny was a Godly, kind, caring, loving, giving, beautiful, talented woman who I want to be more like every day. She had the biggest impact on my life and never skipped a chance to tell me how proud of me she was. Even if it was by way of tough love!

It was always my prayer that my Granny would  meet my future husband before she passed away. It was one of the most heartbreaking things for me to know that  my future family will never get to personally know the special lady I was fortunate enough to call Granny. I pray now that all of us will be able to keep her legacy alive. I can't wait to "meet her in the morning" someday. And, what a day that really will be!! 

-AK