She was my “Aunt Dee” my sister was named after her. I can see why, she was SO AWESOME. When you don’t have a mom, you just don’t learn normal stuff, like how to really set a table, or how to make cukes and sour cream (yummm…).

She was the best, one of those people that you never really understand all she taught you until A) someone else doesn’t know how to do it, or B) you teach your own children.

I loved her so much, my mom loved her so much, she loved us SO much. Because of her, I have a great love for reading. She would take me to the library; take me to garage sales so I could get new books. It’s because of her I love Hi-C and I smile when I see Avon Bubble Bath. It’s because of her that I know the value of driving to 10 stores to get all you need at the best prices.

She took me to ride my first horse. She taught me how to do ceramics. She taught me how to make tomato sandwiches and how awesome they are in the peak of tomato season. We would eat cucumber sandwiches whenever I was around, because no one else would eat them with her. I laugh when I see sandwich spread in the store (YUCK!) because I loved her so much that I didn’t want to hurt her feelings that I HATED it, so I ate it anyway or went without eating if she was serving it because “I wasn’t hungry”.

She taught me how to love iced tea with no sugar. Weaning me off the sugar one tablespoon at a time. She even got me to love General Hospital because we would watch it together when I visited her in the summer (I still love the show).

She was the best. She taught me how to put on pillowcases easier, she taught me to love with my whole heart and that it was always worth it to make everyone’s favorite when they were coming over for dinner (Potato salad for Rob, Tuna salad for Kathy). I can see her smile when she knew everyone was coming.

She gave me a family that loves me for always.

She was the best. I miss her.