The Hughey Boys

December 15 2009 my Gramp’s passed away in Greenwood, SC.  It was a hard time because he is the first of my grandparents to pass away.  I was with him a few days before and remember him touching my face and telling me how beautiful I was and how proud he was of me.  He made a point to tell the nurses who I was and all that I had accomplished.  He talked about how amazing of a woman I was and wouldn’t stop touching my face.  I knew then it wouldn’t be long.

My grandparents on my dad’s side have never been that affectionate.  They have always been very conservative and didn’t even start telling us they loved us until well into my teens.  After Gramps’ stroke, they became even more loving and caring.  I am not as close to them as I would like to be but I am definitely my Granny’s

Claude Hughey

girl.  She is the hardest, balls to the wall woman I know.  I only hope I can be as tough as her.

The one thing they do have is a sense of humor.  Especially at Christmas time.  It started with a HUGE pair of panties passed around in the family.  You never knew

who would open it next.  Then came hiding money.  Once they bought us these hideous (all be it in style at the time) jean jackets and hide $100 all over it.  It’s never been about the gifts, it’s always been about the fun of it.  More recently the gifts have changed from practical gifts to food.  Also included with the food (that is always sugar free mind you) is a calorie counter book.  Granny is great at subtle hints.  Then comes random things Granny finds around the house.  An empty perfume bottle, a travel kit that used to have nail items in it and doesn’t any longer, matches, sticky notes, political pins and writing pens.  Knives and clips, bags

and totes…anything.  It’s always neat to see what she gives away next and you better not go to her house with a full car.  You are most certainly leaving with a basket full of whatever

Tums Tums Tums!!

the seasons fruit is, tons of different pies and cakes and an assortment of baskets, dinner trays and Rubbermaid containers.  It’s always entertaining.

I tell you this to say that when Gramps died I was given two very special things to me….his military ribbons and a bottle of Tums.  I don’t know why she gave them to me but it was almost full…and it was the big bottle.  She told me Gramps kept it by his bed for night time heartburn and he wasn’t going to use them anymore so I could have them.  I did the same, put them by my bed and have slowly sifted through them since then.

Now I come to a crossroads.  There are 6 Tums left in the bottle and I can’t help but be a little sad that they are all gone.  Every time I picked it up I thought of him…which in essence means every time I have heartburn I think of him and I didn’t want that I promise.    So do I let the bottle go…because it isn’t him and it’s just trash?  Or do I buy other bottles to pour into this one just to keep his bottle?  I know it sounds crazy but it feels like a living part of him and I just can’t bring myself to throw it out.

Isn’t it amazing what items we hold on to and why?

See you!

-Courtney