No Tomorrow...

It has been 10 years since my beautiful Grandma Leah passed away. As this anniversary has approached, I have found myself thinking of her a lot and all the things that she taught me. I have so many amazing memories of her that I will always cherish. I loved being with her. Sleepovers at Grandma's with my cousins were the best! We would make sugar cookies and she would cut out our hand prints in cookie dough for us to bake and decorate. Sometimes we would make popcorn balls, but no matter what...we would always make a mess. Grandma would always let us play dress up and wear her nightgowns, fur coats, jewelry, purses and heels and we would pretend that we were princesses, because that's the way she made us feel. She LOVED to travel and she had this incredible guest room with a huge hawaiian beach mural on it. We all loved the "Hawaii Room" because spending time at her house really was like a vacation. She would tuck us in at night and tell us stories and sing songs until we fell asleep. She had a beautiful voice and she knew the funniest, clever old folk songs that we all loved. I have an old cassette tape of her singing all of my old favorites and I still throw it in every now and then and think about her and her amazing influence on my life. She was so beautiful, I never remember a time that her finger nails and toe nails were not perfectly polished. And she almost always wore pearls and heels. If she wasn't in heels she would be in bright, fun keds that would perfectly coordinate and match her outfit. She always wore bright lipstick and I never remember her not smiling. She was the kindest and happiest person I have ever known. She was the only person in my entire life that ever called me Kimberly (not even my parents) and she always called me Kimberly, never Kim. Still to this day, I don't like anyone else to call me by my full name...I get a little sad. I kind-of feel like it was her special thing and no one else is quite good enough to call me that. Wow, do I miss her. I have always prayed that I would someday have a daughter that I could name after my beautiful and beloved grandma. It continues to be my prayer, today.

4 generations...

Me, Mom, Grandma and Great Grandma Martha- not too long before she passed away at age 96.

My cousins Alicia, Wade and I, playing dress-ups on the beach at Grandma's house. Oh my goodness...what wonderful, happy childhood memories those are.

Of all of the things that I learned from my grandma... her love of life, her kindness and service continues to be what I cherish the most. I remember many times going out to her garden and helping her pick some of her beautiful roses or dahlias and then heading to a nearby nursing home and asking if there was anyone who was lonley or could use a visit. She was always serving others, only it didn't feel like service because it was just who she was. She was visiting others, delivering treats and brightening lives until the very day she died.

Today, I feel incredibly

thankful

for her love and legacy and for the example that she has left for me.

Grandma also wrote beautiful poetry and as I was going through some stuff recently, I came across one of her books of poetry and found one of my favorite poems that she ever wrote. It perfectly captures who she was and the things that were important to her, the only difference is that she DID do these things, all of them... regularly. This poem reminds me of all she taught me and continues to teach me and wow, do I have a long way to go.

I love you, Grandma!

NO TOMORROW

I promised myself I’d begin anew,
By doing the things I had neglected to do.
I’d mail the cards I had meant to send,
To the sick and the lonely, the forgotten friend.
To the one pressed with sorrow,
I’d visit tomorrow.
I’d speak kind words, I’d take his hand.
I’d let him know I understand.

My crippled friend was lonely and sad.
I’d pay her a visit and make her heart glad.
The boy overseas was depressed and alone;
He longed for a letter from folks back home.
I loved my mother, I was sure she must know;
But just to make certain, I’d tell her so.

My thoughts were noble; my intentions were good.
I really meant to do as I should.
But the days passed by like a swift moving stream,
And lost in the current were my aims and dreams.
When I hadn’t kept faith, excuses I’d borrow.
I kept telling myself I’d do it tomorrow.

Then one day, as I paused to regret.
I received a call I shall never forget.
The words that were spoken were harsh, but clear.
My crippled friend was no longer here.

What remorse filled my heart; I had sealed my own fate.
I had waited too long; it was now too late.
What help does it give the heart that is broken,
If the words that could heal were never spoken?
Maybe the card I didn’t send could have brightened
the life of my crippled friend.

Will you be found guilty, will you be to blame,
For that longed for letter that never came?
You can dream of your deeds and the good they will do:
But they’ll remain only dreams if they are not carried through.
A good thought without action, no pleasure brings.
It stands without motion, like a bird without wings.

In this world of ours, it is plain to see,
Time will not wait for laggers like me.
As I reflect in sadness, my heart seems to say,
There is no tomorrow, there’s only TODAY.

~Leah Pyne Rowley Meldrum~