"Mammer" - A Tribute to Grandparents

My grandmother, Mammer, passed away 18 years ago today after losing her battle with emphysema. She was the first of my grandparents to die. She was the first person that I loved with all of my heart that passed away. Her funeral was very tough on me. Seeing my grandfather, Pop, in such pain was a difficult thing to witness. Worrying about my dad was also very challenging.

I spent a lot of time with Mammer. She would travel with me from Ocala to West Palm Beach to see my dad one weekend a month on the train; which used to scare the heck out of me as it was so loud when we would have to pass in between railcars. She would attend my ballgames. She made the meanest cheeseburger this side of the Pecos River for my lunch breaks when I worked in the watermelon fields of Sumter County. We vacationed in North Carolina each summer where we would play cards all hours of the night. Mammer made each Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, birthday, etc. a special occasion.

Aside from the "special events," it was just the "normal" times that we spent together that made such an impact on me. Drinking hot chocolate with her in the mornings, playing board games, just sitting around talking; those are the best memories. Mammer would always have a Yoo-Hoo chocolate drink waiting on me when I arrived at her house in Wildwood, FL. Over the years, a silly thing like a Yoo-Hoo has always brought a smile to my face. I buy my four kids a Yoo-Hoo from time to time and it reminds me of her.

Mammer taught me a lot about life. She was very competitive and that certainly rubbed off on me. She believed in doing things the right way and didn't put up with any shenanigans or excuses. She believed in a strong work ethic. She had a lot of pride. She was a wonderful role model. She worried more about others than herself.

I think about Mammer very often and always on November 5th. I wish we would've had more time with her. You might see me around town in a ratty and tattered Florida State sweatshirt from time to time and that is because it is the last Christmas present I ever got from my Mammer and I continue to treasure it. Mammer made my family strong. Mammer helped make me a better person. I am so thankful to have had Mammer in my life for 23 years before she passed.

My hope is that ALL of you have, or at least had, a Mammer in your life. Grandparents are such wonderful people. It always makes me happy to see grandparents attend our York Duke activities. I hope our students that are lucky enough to be within close proximity of their grandparents realize how lucky they are. Grandparents absolutely need to be cherished. They leave us way too soon.