Jodie Mae Royer Rush Tomas

November 17, 1929 - August 2, 2005

I have had a bad month.  August has officially sucked right from the beginning.  My grandmother, "Memaw", died suddenly on the 2nd.  (That's "Mem" like in the word "memory", not Mee-Maw.) Luckily, I was with her at her bedside when she died.  I cannot think of anything more personal than being with someone at their death.  It was one of the saddest, weirdest, and most beautiful things I have ever experienced.  I miss her terribly.  She was one of the coolest chicks around, truly a magical woman. 

So, it's taken me a few weeks to get back to feeling okay.  I'm more angry than anything right now, mostly because I expected her to be around for another 15-20 years.  I wanted my children to know her, as I knew my great-grandmother.  Memaw is wrapped up in almost all of my childhood memories, and without her, it's like all of that stuff is gone.  In an ambitious attempt at holding on to everything about her that I can, I have decided to make a little video documentary about Memaw.  I have actually been planning to start it for a few months now, beginning to get some interviews on video.  Luckily, I was able to capture an hour long interview of her the weekend before she died.  She told some stories of when she was a little girl, stories of how her parents met, wonderful stories.  I have a digital video camera, so I'm able to upload to my computer and edit with Pinnacle software.  I'm planning to have it completed in a year or so.  I woud like to interview as many people in the family as possible to get some good Memaw-memories on tape.  Then there's the scanning of old photos, and all of the editing.  Definitely not a weekend project. 

In other news, I'm all signed up to start my culinary classes at the Art Institute in October.  I signed all my loans last week, and after a mild heartattack - it ain't cheap - I'm all set and on my way to becoming a pastry chef.  Woo-hoo!

Hey, any of you guys drive Honda Elements?  I'm seriously thinking of buying one this week.  Janis is slowly falling apart - (DO NOT BUY A BEETLE CONVERTIBLE!), and I'm trading her in ASAP, before she gives out for good.  She's been in the shop four times for problems with the convertible top, and also numerous other electrical problems.  Not good for a two year old car with only 30,000 miles.  So, back to Honda I go.  My first two cars were Hondas, and I loved them.  And I so dig the Element!  That thing rocks!  The dealer send me home with one over the weekend, and I just fell in love with it.  I'm getting the 4-wheel drive too, so I can do some serious truckin'. 

Comments

[Painter Woman]

My condolences... and encouragement on the awesome tribute you plan. What a legacy to know (and be related) to a cool woman of age and experience.

[Cat.]

First of course, my condolences. I never knew my grandparents, and i hope to that my children will know theirs (my parents). I better get crackin...

second, yay! pastry school! i am anxious to see how this turns out for you! its something i have been contemplating for a bit now myself. i am just not sure yet.

third! i do no have an element but i have had a Honda Civic for 8 years now and it has been nothing but a pleasure. No problems, not a one. just keep up the maintenence and you are good to go. my bro is a mechanic for Infiniti and has heard nothing but good about the element and always recommends Hondas.

[Brittany]

my deepest condolences. I think your idea for a documentary is brilliant. good luck.