My grandma Vera died this weekend. She was the matriarch of our big extended family in Shreveport. Many of my childhood memories revolve around her and the role she played in our lives. She was central to all of the Sunday suppers, family vacations, weekend sleepovers, and holidays. With over 20 family members always in attendance she must have loved the chaos. I didn't realize until I got older and moved away that I loved it too. I never knew how much I would miss the closeness of grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles and cousins until I moved away. I grew up with something really special, and it was Grandma Vera that helped bring it all together. Our family dabbled in being dysfunctional. We had our share of family quarrels, past secrets, and police intervention. Grandma was the eccentric type. Honestly, I think I can say that's one of my favorite things about her. She had her electric blue eyeshadow, a shiny ring on every finger, her country music and colorful fashion sense. She also had some incredible talents and she was passionate about them. Mostly she was passionate about every member of her family- from the oldest to the youngest. She adored her grandchildren and would spend hours talking with us, finding out about who we were and telling us stories of the long ago past. We always wanted to spend the night with Grandma Vera and Grandpa Joe. She took us on vacations with her. Who does that? You'd think one of the advantages to growing up is going on vacation without a bunch of whining kids. She would pack us all in her van and we'd head out. She was brave like that. In my hazy memories of the past it seems as if we spent time at grandma's every weekend. We'd all eat (Grandma Vera was a fabulous cook) and the grownups would play games and gossip and the kids would all run around. Every visit inevitably concluded with a concouphony of sounds from the music room where she would play the piano or organ and let the rest of us pick an instrument to "accompany" her with. With a baby grand, and organ, a drum set, guitars, and various percussions we made some pretty loud sounds. She loved that the most I think.  I regret not being able to spend more time with her as I've lived away from home the last 10 years. I treasure the memories that I have of her as well as the more colorful stories that I've heard of her. I want to pass on these things to my children (although they'll have to wait until they're older to hear the really interesting stuff).  My mom was looking through pictures yesterday of Grandma Vera and came across one of her as a child. She couldn't believe how much I favored her in the way my jaw is shaped. She said that people never completely pass away because they leave a part of themselves behind. I'm proud of the parts of myself that were part of Grandma too. She help to shape my life. She brought the Gospel into our family. She bore and raised my father and for that alone, I want to keep her in my heart.