A Walk Down Memory Lane

Yesterday I drove out to Claremont to visit with my Grandma Mimi who is in town for a few weeks from Spokane, WA. For those of you who don't know her she is my Mom's Mom, and quite frankly amazing. She has always served as a role model as to how to age gracefully and live a productive and fulfilling life. She has many life accomplishments I admire her for, but to me, she has always been the pinnacle of what a grandma should be.

When I was young I would go over to her house and I would spend the weekend there and I would always feel as if the world stopped and it was just her and I. She was so attentive to everything I would say, she would ask questions and was interested in me. She would always listen and make me feel like I was so special. She would always make my favorite breakfast of Cream of Wheat (with lumps) and she would even let me make eggs just the way I liked. She always had special treats, like Seashells from Trader Joe's (ya my grandma has been going there since before it was the trendy thing to do). She was Martha Stewart before everyone else thought they were, teaching me the tricks of the trade of how to make the most superb pies from scratch ( looking back I feel she was instrumental in starting my appreciation for homemade things). She was also "Green" before it was the cool thing to be saving the foil and ziplocks from the picnics at the pool. 

We would do many fun things like go to Boon Companion Toy Store, go to amazing parks, sit and talk for hours, I would watch her play soccer on Saturday mornings....ya she played soccer on The C.O.W.S. The Claremont Older Women's Soccer team. You haven't lived until you've seen your grandma head a soccer ball!!!! (Since she moved she continues her legacy playing tennis, taking her dog walking pretty much everyday rain or shine, participates in a book club, and she also served as a volunteer at a crisis nursery.)We would also go on walks around the Colleges, just as we did this Friday. I truly believe that you don't realize how special a memory is until you can share it with your children, it was so wonderful to be able to experience this...

This is the same tree I used to climb as a child.

After we played awhile here we also had a picnic, and then went on the same walk her and I used to do. But with two kids it was a little different...we went in reverse and at a snails pace, here is what we saw along the way...

A giant mound of sand someone drew these smiley faces into

Outdoor theater

 A chair etched into the stone at the theater        

                                  

Had to steal a kiss from a handsome guy... 

Pretty.

This bougainvillea was in the form of a shrub, we had never seen that before.

We thought this tree was beautiful.

Camilla, one of my Grandmas and Moms favorites.

I noticed Gregory was crouched behind a shrub eating something.....

A different piece of art...Can you guess what this is?

Its a torso, no head and REALLLLLLLLLLLLY long arms and legs, no feet. 

I have always wondered what the artist was trying to communicate with this piece.

All in all it was a day I will never forget, I love my Mimi. She is so special to me and I am so thankful to have her be a part of our life. Thank you Mimi for being YOU!!