Memory Monday #9

I am so grateful that not a day goes by that Grandma isn't a part of my life. Some days I think of sharing an experience with her. Other days I think of some bit of advice she would give me. And still other days I think of funny things she said or did. I especially love the nights when she's in my dreams. Every day it is something, and for that I am very grateful.

About a month ago, I was missing Grandma's hugs. Funny thing...she never was much for hugging until she married into the "Hugging Heywood Family". I'd say that by the time she left this earth, she could hug with the best of them! Many people who knew her well commented about her hugs and how much they looked forward to those hugs. When I think of Grandma's hugs, I think soft, unfeigned, complete embrace. If I ponder really hard, I can still feel what a Grandma hug feels like. When I was shorter than she was, she would squeeze me under her shoulder like a mother hen covers her chick with her wing, then she'd kiss me on top of the head. I especially like this picture right now because it shows how she would squeeze me in.

There's nothing more comforting in all the world than a mother's unconditional embrace.

During the time that I was missing those hugs so desperately, I had a dream about her. In my dream, I was the grateful recipient of another of Grandma's hugs. It was very real and has helped me as I ponder to be able to feel what it felt like to be embraced by my mom. She hugged me a lot growing up, making it easy for me to dream that reality and remember the feeling. We don't know what tomorrow will bring, so let's hug our kids and loved ones as much as we can today, so they'll be able to feel it if ever we are absent from one another. Grandma would...she did.