Katie, thank you for sharing your pictures with us. They made me smile--you and your sister look so fun and beautiful. :hug:
Thank you Sweetie.
I am just looking again. That one photo of "Penelope Cheese" has such a story behind it. I think we were in Junior High when she cooked up a scheme to dress me up as this character in wigs and padding and makeup and made me leave the house in the snow then ring the doorbell and come in for a lunch visit as one of her "friends from school" to meet my Grandma. My poor Grandma was on the receiving end of so many pranks by us. I think Penelope's first costume involved wearing my Grandma's own nightgown!
Well this started years and years of visits from "Penelope Cheese". She appeared at most holidays. Cindy had a ball making me up and coaching me on how to speak and interacting with me like I was her friend. Penelope had a southern accent, an underbite and was kind of racy when it came to the boys. She loved grilled cheese sandwiches.
My Grandma totally played along and acted like she didn't know it was me and that first time, Cindy really thought she'd pulled it off convincing my Grandma she had this oddball friend.
Cindy was constantly creating all kinds of schemes and games. It was truly never a dull moment with her. She made us play "The Price is Right" in our camper during long trips pulling out all the canned goods etc making my brother and I compete.
Then, as adults, she ended up as a contestant on The Price is Right. I hosted a huge party where we watched it together. Great lines came out of that like "I"ll go for the cookies, Bob" and "I love New Orleans!" (although she'd never been there). I am also bringing that video which they might play on Ricki Lake. Of course we dragged our Grandma to that taping too. We went everywhere with our Grandma. we LOVED hanging out with her. She raised us for 5 years after our Mom died. There is a pic there too with "Buddha" (what we nicknamed her) and of course Cindy has all us dressed up for Christmas Eve with scarves and veils. Everything was a chance for a costume party with her.
It's been a long time since I've allowed myself these memories. As hard as it is to remember, (tears), it makes me realize how lucky I was to even have had that life for the 29 years I did have it/her.
Maybe it's part of the reason I feel so connected to Travis' siblings as I think Travis was a BIG personality like Cindy was.