Born in 1920, Doris played basketball when girls only played half court and their uniforms consisted of full length skirts. She married her college sweetheart military aviator and worked out of the home as a school teacher and a librarian for years; balancing a home, a military family and a career. While she still had a child living at home, she packed her suitcase and left her son with her husband for a time to finish her Master's degree; fully confident that they parented as a team and her goals were just as important as her husband's. Her way of thinking was likely considered "new age" at the time. She was raising her children in the 1950s-1970s. She was a Proverbs 31 woman if ever there was one.
A quick glance at Facebook reminded me that today is the one year anniversary of my grandmother Doris's passing and it got me to thinking about her. I have a number of blogs written about her waiting to be published when the time is right, but, for today all I can think about is what she must have looked like in that darn full length skirt basketball uniform.
You see, I cannot remember my Grammie wearing skirts....ever. I mean, ok, I am sure she did, but, Grammie wore pants. It was her thing. I am quite certain that if I ever get the chance to travel back in time, I will see teen Doris arguing with her parents, church leaders, school authorities and, likely, friends about her choice for pants. I never asked her if it was for some political statement, her comfort, or if she simply didn't like her slim legs.
As I continue to dive deeper into shedding the lies I have believed about myself, like "I don't like my face because my skin is discolored" or "I am not skinny enough" or "I chose wrong by moving to Virginia after high school instead of going to SUNY school" etc etc, the more I stop thinking about the shallow things I can not change or that do not really matter, and the more I look inward to my being and character, I learn just how much like my Grammie I am. How much of she is in me. Errr... How much of her is in I? Grammar police, have your way.
There were bridges I crossed years ago that I am just now realizing my Grammie built for me. Her legacy is unfolding. I will not allow it to end with me.
Happy Heaven Day, Doris. May you have heavenly cake. As many are sad today thinking about how a year without you have flown by, I know you are rejoicing in the Light of the World. And I hope you know, I am telling people to "start at Matthew".
I miss you with big tears.
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