Ode to Gladys

Growing up we had an elderly couple as our neighbors. Their names were Gladys and George Finney. I don't remember George as well, because he passed away when I was still fairly young. What I do remember of him, he was always outside working, always in overalls, with one exception, when they would come over to our house for a birthday party for one us girls, he was always in a suit.

Gladys was like a third grandmother to me. I went over to her house a lot as a kid. My sisters and I are all fairly far apart in age, so I remembering playing on my own a lot, and when I didn't want to play alone, I went to see Gladys. She was such a kind woman. Always had a smile on her face, so happy to see anyone when they walked through the door. I didn't even knock when I went over, just opened the door and yelled, "Gladys, are you home?", and lucky for me, she was always home. I would run down the block to the store for her, or do random things she "needed help" with, which I'm sure she was still capable of doing, but took pity on the poor lonely neighbor girl. I remember going over there and just sitting and talking to Gladys, watching TV with her, but mostly I just loved being around her, there was something very comforting to me just being in the same space with her.

Some of my best memories of Gladys are:
Gladys loved word search puzzles. She had stacks of word search books, and always had a pen holding her place. I have a vivid memory of having a huge word search of animal names for school one time, and I went straight to Gladys for help. I still love to do word search puzzles.

Gladys also used to put a little bit of 7up in with her bowl of sherbet. Doesn't sound very appetizing, but I loved it as a kid, it was like a reverse float.

Gladys used to make divinity, and all kinds of candy and cookies around the holidays, but I loved divinity! I can't remember the last time I ever ate divinity, but I will always remember standing in Galdys' hot kitchen "helping" her make divinity.

Gladys always had on a dress and usually an apron. That's how I remember her always. In her kitchen baking or canning, busy in the kitchen with something.

As Gladys got older she eventually had to move into an assisted living facility. She wasn't always the most tolerant of the staff, stating they would come in her room and just, "dumb around." Which is a term my family still uses to this day. Another thing I still say, is "Orphie", that's what Gladys used to call Oprah, not sure if she really thought that was her name, or she just thought Orphie sounded better.

Gladys passed away on June 4, 2005. Today, December 21, is her birthday. She would have been 101 today, and I could think of no better day to honor her memory then today. So Gladys, you were part of our family, and we loved you dearly. You impacted my life in multiple ways, and I think of you often and always with love. I hope George met you at the gates with a gooseberry pie and a brand new word search book.