7 Years Ago Today

7 years ago today we lost Judy to breast cancer. She was 54 years old.

Judy was my step grandmother, which is odd to say (or type?) out loud because she was always just Judy, not "my step grandma Judy". She and Grandpa Gary (my dad's dad) got married before I was born, so I knew Judy the same as I knew all my other grandparents. The "step" never mattered, and to me she will always be blood.

She was really really cool. She was younger than the rest of my grandparents and she could relate to us in a different way. She loved the beach - any time I see seashells or stained glass fish or shark's teeth I always think of her. I have the best memories of her sorting through shells and rocks down on the beach in Florida, helping us to find the shark's teeth among all the other stuff. I also remember this stained glass fish thing she had on a glass sliding door at their old house on Kim Ave in Port Charlotte, so you wouldn't accidentally run right into it. I also remember playing croquet in their backyard when they lived in the blue house on Burncoat St in Worcester, and how they had this outdoor square clothesline thing. And they always had the coolest couches - they had this big black sectional and for whatever reason I thought was just the coolest thing ever. Whenever I see sectionals, I always think of her.

Her nails were always done, she was sarcastic and funny as hell, and I miss her all the time. I miss her especially today. Miles for Judy this weekend.