GRANDMA MARY

Grandma Mary was a cheerful woman.

When we arrived at her house,

she would practically sing her hellos to us.

We could hear the smile in her voice, and knew that she was truly

happy to see us.

I remember picking her up at the airport when she came to visit

with us one time.

I could hear her smiling voice before I could see her.

She was talking to another woman as they got off the plane,

and her voice had that singing smile in it.

It just didn’t matter if she was giving advice,

welcoming a family member, or giving a recipe,

she seemed to sing.

People always smiled when she was talking to them,

and I never really understood until much later

what it was that she did to make people so happy.

Whenever she wrote to me, as I opened the letter,

with the very first word, I could hear her voice

reading the letter to me.

Hearing her voice always made me smile,

even if hearing it was only in my mind.

Her love poured out in her voice,

caressing me to my very soul.

Grandma’s been gone for many years, but whenever I prepare

the recipes that she taught,

I still hear the recipe in her lilting voice.

When I remember her words, they’re in that same melody

as the one I first heard them.

I never hear her words in any voice but hers.

She was such a cheerful person, and I feel lucky

that she sang her love to me,

so that it can stay with me forever.