Wedding season was kicked off this year in Dallas, TX where I met up with my fam for the wedding of my cousin Aaron and his fiance Kimberlee. I flew out, leaving John alone with the animals, hoping they'd all get along and no one would die or get locked in a closet.
Aunt Karla and Uncle Rick picked me up and I immediately helped Karla get some last minute things ready for Aaron and for the Rehearsal Dinner the next night. Mom, Dad, and GG arrived together a little while later, pulling mom along with Karla and I to get the Rehearsal Dinner venue set up for the next night.
Once in Texas, dad got a call from his sister, Liz, in Mississippi, that his mom, my grandma, had taken a turn for the worst and wasn't expected to make it through the weekend.
Her health had been on a downward spiral since my wedding in 2008.
While in CO for my wedding, she fell and broke her arm.
Once back in MS she had surgery on it, and didn't come out the same. She lost a lot of her memory and didn't recognize a lot of us anymore. She was put in an assisted living home in Pascagoula, MS where my aunt lived so she could keep an eye on her. As the years passed, she eventually became bed ridden and after this phone call, we were prepared for "the end" to be in sight.
Mom and Dad were, ironically enough, already planning on driving down to Pascagoula to see her anyways since they were within driving distance in Dallas. Once the news came down, Drew and I decided to go with them since this might be the last time we see her.
The Rehearsal Dinner went off great, and Karla did a fab job of organizing it. I was dubbed as her photographer/stand in, since she needed to enjoy the festivities instead of just taking pictures all night, so mom and I kinda took over on that front, and I'm glad we did. She and Rick got to relax and actually participate in it all instead of worrying about picture angles. :)
The next morning/the morning of the wedding-- mom, me, Ashleigh, Karla, and GG went to a local spa and got mani's and pedi's. GG had never gotten either before so this was almost as much of a treat for us than her! After that I went out to lunch with my dad, just the two of us. It was nice to catch up and we hit up, for old times sake, Pei Wei for their lettuce wraps and crab rangoons. AMAZING.
I went to the church early with Rick and Karla so I could take pictures for them while they did their meet and greet with their fellow Duncanites that traveled from OK for the wedding. It was awesome to see them with their friends and finally put some faces to names myself.
The wedding went off without a hitch, and I have to admit that it was the first time I had ever seen my cousin, Aaron, cry....besides when we were young and I would pick on him, that doesn't count.
The reception was at Kimerlee's parents house in Garland where they had set up a huge tent and catered dinner. We stayed all hours of the night meeting people and watching all the wedding festivities. It was so great to be a part of.
The next morning, bright and early, Drew and I hopped in the car with Mom and Dad for the trek to Mississippi. We arrived Sunday evening, as did my Aunt Anna, who flew in from CA. She and dad met up with Liz and went to see their mom in the home while Drew, Mom, and I stayed at the hotel to catch up on things. The next morning, we went and saw her, and my heart broke.
I knew Mimi wouldn't want us to see her like this. It hurt me so much to see her in so much pain. She'd lost a lot of weight and was only awake for a couple minutes a day. So we spent our days in and out of the home sitting by her bed waiting for those few minutes she was awake to tell her hi and that we were all here for her.
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| Eggplant Lamberto & Marguerite Special |
While there we also went to the local Pascagoula Library. Apparently a couple years ago they did a full display about Mimi and her Ms. America days which included this painted portrait of her that they still had of her.
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| Portrait at local Library |
Although Mimi didn't pass away while we were all physically there, we went ahead and made plans so that if and when it did happen, things were taken care of for the most part. I was really glad Drew and I could be there for dad, even though we didn't actually "help" much. I think it was a good distraction that we were all actually there, and having a true good time.
I flew out on Wednesday, back to Raleigh, and as of then, she was still alive. My parents and Drew went back to OKC/CO to pick up GG and fly home at the end of that week and as of then she was still alive.
Mimi passed away May 29th, so mom and dad flew back to attend the funeral. Drew and I didn't go, me partially cause of the worked I had already missed at that point, and I had two more out of state weddings planned that I was having to take time off work for.
I was glad I got to see her alive and not dead. I know she would have thrown a fit if she "knew" we saw her the way she was at her home, but I'm glad I was there regardless. I made sure to do my make up and hair everyday we went to see her because I know she'd do the same for us if she could.
Some of my fondest memories of her is when she would come visit and would bring me make up bags full of her department store make up and perfume samples such as Clinique, Estee Lauder, etc. They would be stuff that she wouldn't use, and I'd be crazy young enough to try it. I remember, being from
Colorado, not understanding why she always wrapped a napkin around her water glass (water condensation, lol). I remember when I got some of her Ms. America stuff and just how proud I felt.
The Ms. America Organization posted online a sweet note about Mimi:
Now that it all is said and done...the funeral done and everyone back "home," I'm glad she's no longer in pain. I'm definitely going to miss my partner diva in crime, but as a co-worker put it, "I am sure she'll have them lined up in heaven, looking their best!"
