Thank you.

Today, my wife's grandmother passed away.

She liked seafood. Especially salmon. In fact, when we had the chance to invite her over while we made salmon, she'd eat a second portion and always go home with another

She said she liked the way I cooked it.

I liked hearing her stories of growing up in Ruston ... meeting her husband at a USO dance (I think it was USO) ... working with my sophomore roommate at a snack counter called "Mr. Munchies". And the kind gruffness she used when speaking about her neighbors ... calling them "damn this or that" one moment and then saying how industrious they are the next.

She loved cats, too. She-ra ... Pumpkin ... and even our cat Sandy. There is also the collection of owl trinkets, which may or may not have been an accidental collection over time, but she did have many of 'em.

Her family is an example of forgiveness over time ... of grace and imperfection ... but that in itself is beautiful.

Thank you Grandma Jeri, you'll be missed by us and by Pumpkin ... say hello to She-ra and Mary for us, we still miss them, too.