Grandma, My Favorite Juror, is gone…

I am in trial this week and it is particularly difficult. My Grandmother, Mrs. Thelma Reynolds, passed away two weeks ago. She was my favorite juror.

Whenever I handled cases, I would ask her opinion on them and she would FREELY give her two cents worth. She would review evidence and we would discuss theories of some of my cases. Although she is gone, her love will be missed. My current trial was set to begin September 15, 2008 but Grandma’s funeral was Sept 10, 2008 and I was not emotionally ready to do this. The judge hearing my case agreed to pass the case and I did not want it to be passed for too long. I could hear my Grandma saying “Get back in there Eric…don’t cry too long over me” That is exactly what I am doing. (Tears starting to form in my eyes as I type this)

Let me tell you about Grandma – Grandma was a walking cookbook. I love to cook, too- she was able to quote recipes “on the go” and tell you what was left out of a recipe by simply tasting the food. She was a great cook.  My Mother is a great cook too- she just downplays it, but she is. Grandmaretired from the VA Hospital as a nurse after working for over 30 years.  After retirement, she took dozens of classes at Lawson State Community College such as commercial cooking, cake decorating (my favorite because she had to cook cakes weekly), plumbing (yeah, plumbing), and many other classes until she ran out of stuff to do.

At 87 years old she still drove herself to church and wherever she wanted to go. Grandma never had a wreck while driving. Actually the only wreck in her car was one where I was driving it.

I miss her dearly. Writing this about her helps a lot. It is a relief that she is not fighting cancer any longer and I know she is with her sister and dad in Heaven, so I am okay with that. While I am in trial which started September 22, I can feel her there with me- telling me “remember what Grandma said – be careful, take your time, and do a good job”.

I have to stop typing now- my tears are keeping me from seeing the screen. Bye…