Grandma 'Beautiful' - Georgia

'Beautiful' is how Georgia sums up Grandma's life and legacy.

Georgia, wanting to avoid an emotional scene, finally gives in a shares. She tells us that Grandma has never done or said anything to her to make her sad.

Georgia, a Seventh Day Adventist, tells the story of one day when she was little, Grandma cooked pork, and Georgia decided to taste 'one little piece' thinking at the time that it was beef. She remembers it as "soo sweet", when she asked Grandma what it was Grandma said "its pork man, eat it, it's sweet,..."

Georgia remembers Grandma as a beef fan, "she always cooked beef." "She cooked it with a lot of gravy and seasoning."

Georgia remembers that at Zane (her son)'s bitrh Grandma was extrememly happy she prayed a lot for him. At this time in the talk, Winsome adds that Grandma would list the names of all her children, grandchildren, cousins and great-grand children in her daily prayers.
As a teenager Grandma told Georgia, a lot of love stories, which she describes as "the best soap operas,"

Grandma was apparantly a romantic at heart, and with her there was always some mystery to unveil. In Georgia's eyes, saddened today as she grieves Grandma's passing there is strength, and a spirit of love.

Memories - Mynion reflecting on Grandma's life "a testimony"

Mynion describes Grandma Ignota's life as a testimony, with lots of trials, which she overcame gracefully. One of her earliest memories is of Grandma taking the big country bus from Kingston to St Mary to look for the family. Mynion remembers talk of 'Ms. Etty'. She remembers being really happy to see her grandma, and sad when she had to leave. She wouldn't stay for long spurts.

Mynion eagerly anticipated upcoming trips to Kingston to spend holiday's with Grandma. She tells the story of one day when she stole away in her daddy's car hidding in the space on the floor of the backseat of her dad's Chevy, when she thought she was safely away from Oracabessa,  and almost in Kingston she surprised dad, "Daddy!" she exclaimed. Daddy shocked, and annoyed, carried her right back to Oracabessa.

Steve and Mynion often got to travel to grandma at the same time. They would go to see the floats, and to visit hope gardens, during the summer.

Mynion thought deeply about Grandma's testimony, reminding  me how she never let anything bother her really. She described her as unassuming, but extrememly strong and with a wealth of knowledge. She admired the way she expressed herself, a great resource for advice on life. She always offered her take on life and spoke from a point of experience. Sound advice, realistic, and true to life....

Mynion told me that when she started out on her career path as a nurse, Grandma was very encouraging, and she told her " You are to be careful of the more senior nurses, as one said "she nah feed no young bud to pick out her yeye",

Other gems that Grandma left with her that have lived with her ever since are:-

"Always have a bag packed..."

"Always know where your matches are,"

Mynion smiles sweetly as she thinks of Grandma, and I can tell that Grandma still lives through her today...