Grandma and Grandpa Tawney

My Grandma Tawney passed away two years ago today. My Grandpa Tawney soon followed a day and a half later. I was really close with the both of them and I still think about them all the time. Grandpa was born July 1933 in Virginia. His family were the caretakers of a lake resort in the mountains (you might know it as the place they filmed Dirty Dancing). My Great-Grandpa died, leaving my Great-Grandma and the kids. Since my grandpa was too young to work, his mom sent him to live with his aunt and uncle. He called his aunt and uncle mom and dad. Grandma was born October 1933, also in Virginia. Her family life was also a little interesting as her mom died and her dad remarried. Grandma and Grandpa met in high school. He was the cute football jock and she was the quiet girl. Grandma liked him but thought nothing of it. They became high school sweethearts and were married (he had graduated and she was still in high school). Different times. My Grandpa joined the military and they had three children, my mom being in the middle.
My Grandma was the best cook ever and she passed it down to my mom. She always made sure there was gravy at every meal, just for me. A sample meal time would be fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, biscuits, salad, vegetables, and fruit. She never measured anything. I get my love of cheesecake from her. If my mom told me I couldn't have a piece of cheesecake, Grandma would tell me to get one as well as one for her. She was always properly dressed and had a beautiful traditional home. She always said that when she died she wanted her hair colored and styled and her makeup done. She constantly talked about dying and her spot on the hill, which I hated, and would yell at her (nicely) to stop talking about it. While Ryan and I were dating, I was talking to my mom on the phone and in the background I heard Grandma yell "Has he kissed her yet? Is he gay?" Oh Grandma.

My Grandpa loved to watch Westerns and you could sometimes catch him watching Jerry Springer. He liked going into town to talk with the other old men. He would pick up Hardees for us for breakfast, or donuts. Grandpa used to work for Virginia Tech and gave me a really nice pen from there, and I think that is why I wanted to go there so much. He used to tease me all the time, saying I should put a sign on my butt that said "Wide Load." Whenever I answered the phone or got on the phone with him he would say "Hey boy." I would yell at him (once again, nicely) and tell him that it was me. He knew who it was, but he also knew he could get a rise out of me. He would motion to me to come over to him as he pulled money out of his wallet. He would give me a 20 dollar bill and tell me to not tell my little brother. He did the same thing with Josh too. My mom took me to the airport to go back to BYU after my first Christmas break, but we had to meet my dad and Grandpa at the doctor's office in order to say goodbye. Grandpa once again pulled out money from his wallet for me.

They were funny, loud, loving, used the occasionl swear word, and really were the best grandparents ever.

My mom was with them when they died. They both had been fairly sick for a long time. The doctors said Grandpa wouldn't live through the weekend. Grandma passed first. She wasn't supposed to go at all. My mom said Grandpa knew she had gone and that the veil was very thin that day. He knew he could go.