More than REBA lyrics

Today has been flooded with memories and feelings tied to my family and all I've considered to be 'home' for the past 25-ish years. Old people are so awesome. For most of my life I was terrified of all old people (minus my mom's mom and dad). And even grandpa was scary at times. But when I turned 16 I started hanging out with my step-grandparents more often. They had always lived in the same town, I just never took advantage of a relationship with them. I affectionately just called them: Mr. and Mrs. Prejean. That sounds impersonal but it isn't when you consider I call my step-dad 'Coach Prejean.' I may have called them Mr./Mrs. Prejean but they were my grandparents and I love them as my 'real' grandparents.

When I was in High School, juniors and seniors could leave campus and go off campus for lunch. And during my senior year my friend's parents would periodically cook lunch for us. My grandparents offered to cook for us one day and I was so anxious. My G-parents house was always clean and I was just paranoid to invite a bunch of people over. I remember there was construction on Highway Street so we were 6 minutes late getting to my grandparent's house. And they were waiting for us peeking out the window. They even mentioned they were nervous we had forgotten or weren't coming... Once we were seated my G-parents did not stop waiting on us for one second! Before we ate my Grandpa started to cry when praying for our lunch. (That didn't weird-out my friends at all.) Then my Grandma said, 'we are just so happy to have young people in the house again..." then she started crying. :)
They still ask about all of my friends that came over for lunch. Even if I haven't talked to those friends since High School. They could even point to where each friend was sitting!

One other time I was talking with my G-parents and they were being all wise and encouraging, like always, and in passing my G-ma said, "To Thine own self be true." And in awe and excitement I asked, "YOU KNOW REBA!?!" [I was referring to REBA's song (and my personal Life-Theme-Song: 'Fancy' when my REBA says, "She handing me a heart-shaped locket that said, 'To Thine own self be true.' And I shivered as I watched a roach crawl across the toe of my high-healed shoe..."]
With a surprised (and appalled) look on her face Mrs. Prejean said, "...Who? That is Shakespeare." But I was quick to defend my REBA correcting my G-ma with, "Na, that's a REBA song."
-Isn't that sad though? My Grandma quotes Shakespeare and books like the Bible and I memorize REBA lyrics. :(

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zplc4Ienkws

Sometimes it physically hurts being here. But that is just part of it. Lots of tears today. But that is just part of it too.
Life is good. Life is beautiful. Life is short.

In .love.
Jp