The first couple that comes to mind that had a special part in my life was Bob and Reba Bailey. I was very young when Reba passed away, but I remember her a bit and from the stories I've heard, she thought I was pretty special. I still have a Strawberry Shortcake quilt that I love that her daughter made for me. Bob was my go-to guy for hugs and gum every Sunday. He later married Jean and she was always sweet and special too. He passed away before we moved from Bryant.
Another couple was June and Alfred Grogg. June babysat me, Traci and her granddaughter Jamie (we were all around 4 or 5) at the same time for a little bit. I can't even imagine the handful that we were back then, but she loved us anyway. I remember hating naptime there and it was always hard for me to settle down. I loved going to their farmhouse! There were always fun toys (leftover from her own kids) and we never knew what we were going to eat around their family. I tried cow's tongue there and many other animals. For my 3rd grade birthday party, I had all the girls over from my grade (except for the Amish girls), we dressed up and put make up on and walked to their house (they had moved downtown at this point). Even though they had 12 kids of their own and lots of grandkids, there was always room for my family.
Another couple was GlenDale & Mabel Shoemaker. Such sweet people. This is the only couple that are still living. When I was a little girl, I would go over to Mabel during church and play with her blood vessels on her hand. She just sat and smiled. They are always so loving and welcoming. Even when I went back to Bryant a few years ago to speak, they let me spend the night at their farmhouse and cooked great meals for me. They were my honorary grandparents at my wedding since my real ones have all passed away. It meant so much to me to have them there.
The last one that I need to mention is Ruby. She came into my life a few years later then the others, but her impact was just as much as the others who had known me since I was born. I was probably about 10 or so when I first met her. Her husband was a patient in the Alzheimer's Unit that my mom was in charge of at the time. I would often visit the patients when my mom was working and that's when I met Ruby. She started going to our church and then she would take me out to eat on the Sundays my mom worked and let me go with her to the nursing home. I would visit with the patients until my mom was ready to go home for the day. She also had grandchildren, but still made time for me.
These people hold a special place in my heart and I'm thankful that I had the chance to be loved and show them love. I'm thankful for my honorary grandparents.
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