2023, A Day In The Life Of Liz, Boston, Idaho, Jackson, journalism, My favorite things, Reporter, Summer, Twin Falls

Top 10 of Summer 2023

elizabethjoyhadley

Hi friends!

Earlier this summer, I set a list of things I wanted to do during this summer, it included everything from Watch High School Musical 1, 2, and 3 to go to a water park! Sadly, I wasn’t able to accomplish everything I wanted to on my list, because you know, real life and work and other commitments and bills to pay and chores to do. But there were still some really good days too! So, without further ado, here is a look at my Top 10 of this summer! Hard to believe it’s already over!

  1. Visiting my family and friends in Boston!

I would consider this the start of summer! It was such a fun week and I miss all of these people so much! I have such good memories of this week!

2. Hosting a big 4th of July Party… on July 1st.

At my house, the fireworks are lit off from the field that is literally one house away from mine! So, what did I do? Hosted a giant 4th of July Party to have everyone over to watch! It was such a good day!

3. Going paddleboarding on the Snake River

I have kayaked the Snake River before but never Paddle boarded and it was so much fun! This particular day was gorgeous out as well, so it made it even better! I hope I can do that more next year!

4. Floating the Boise River!

Another first for me! I’ve never floated the Boise River before and it was so much fun! This particular day was 102 degrees and the water was 54 degrees! We had a few minor setbacks on this day, but overall it was so much fun! I love trying new things!

5. Going to Roaring Springs Water Park and Wahooz Family Fun Center!

I sadly have no pictures from the water park, but this sunset was taken on the drive home this trip, so it will have to do!

6. Kelley’s Canyon Orchard Peaches and Cream Day!

Trevor and I drove down into the Canyon to Kelley’s Canyon Orchard where they grow peaches and other fruit. On this day, they had peaches and cream and it was delicious! This spot in the Canyon is so pretty and it was so peaceful!

7. The Twin Falls County Fair

The Twin Falls County Fair is absolutely always a highlight of the year for me! I just love the people, the food, the atmosphere! It never disappoints! These two gentlemen run the model railroad building and I love them to pieces!

8. Attended a gorgeous wedding!

We went to a gorgeous wedding for our friends! Trevor was a groomsmen, doesn’t he look so handsome? But this wedding was so fun, and I danced the night away on that dancefloor!

9. Taking Jackson to the Pooch Splash!

The Pooch Splash is an annual fundraiser put on by the Twin Falls Animal Shelter for their medical fund. Jackson is from the shelter and I love to give back to the people who gave me my best friend in the world! Jackson had the time of his life too!

10. Covering important stories to Southern Idaho

I mean, considering almost my entire life is spent at work, I guess I have to include it on my Top 10 of summer. It is what I spent most of my summer doing.

And there you have it folks. I didn’t do everything I wanted to do, not even close, but it was still a really great summer full of laughs, time with friends and family, and some fun days.

I used to love summer when I was a kid, probably because we didn’t have school and I could spend all day doing whatever I wanted.

Now that I am older, I think I like Fall the most. The seasons are changing, it’s cooler in the morning but warmer in the afternoon. We’re back to our routines and schedules, which we all know I love a good schedule.

I have to be honest with you, this year in general has been hard for me in many ways, most of which I will never get into on here, but this summer wasn’t all bad! It had lots of good moments, but I’m ready for Fall now!

Thanks for reading, Have a great day!

2023, A Day In The Life Of Liz, Boston, Idaho, Twin Falls

Thoughts with Liz

elizabethjoyhadley

The other day my boyfriend Trevor and I went out to dinner at a local restaurant. We walked in around 5 and there were maybe 6 or so booths taken.

As we were walking towards our booth, I saw that one of the booths was taken by one woman. She was sitting alone.

I immediately remembered the time when my dad took my brother and I to the Ski and Snowboard expo in the Seaport in Boston. It had become our yearly tradition. We would go early on a Saturday and then afterwards we would go eat at the No Name Restaurant. Yes, that was the name of it. It was a delicious seafood restaurant right on the water.

When we went to sit down at the No Name Restaurant all those years ago, I saw a man siting alone. I said to my dad, “he’s all alone, I feel bad, you should talk to him.” I actually did feel really sad about it. I thought, how horrible that he has no one to go out to lunch with. He must be so lonely.

My dad turned around and started asking him if he too went to the ski and snowboard expo. They talked for a while. The man seemed excited that my dad was talking to him, and I remember thinking how sad it is that he didn’t have anyone to go out to eat with, no one to talk to, laugh with.

This past week the woman was eating alone and I thought again how sad it was that she didn’t have anyone to go out to eat with.

But, I’m older now and have had a lot more life experiences than all those years ago at the No Name Restaurant, so I thought, I don’t know her story. Maybe she’s on her way to work or heading home from work. Maybe she’s traveling for business. Maybe she likes being alone. She could be new to the area. After all, there aren’t any rules about eating alone at a restaurant, she could be perfectly content to enjoy her Mexican food by herself.

But, as I think about it more, it still makes me sad. It makes me sad because these people on both occasions didn’t have anyone they could call to go to dinner with, so they went alone.

And to be totally honest with you, most of the time, I feel very lonely in my life. I’m not lonely because I’m not surrounded by people, I seem to always be surrounded by someone.

I’m lonely because I have yet to meet anyone who is like me. I know a lot of people, sure, but I don’t know if I have anyone in my life that gets me, and understands me really. I’m not sure I ever will.

Anytime I try to explain how I feel or what I think, no one seems to truly understand what I mean.

So maybe, going out to dinner alone is better than being surrounded by people who don’t understand them. Maybe, it’s peaceful for them.

I hope they know I’m rooting for them, whoever they are, wherever they are. I wish only the best for them.

2023, A Day In The Life Of Liz, Bruce, Father, Father's Day, Idaho

Happy Father’s Day, Dad!

elizabethjoyhadley

Happy Father’s Day to all the father’s and father figures today, but especially to my own dad.

Bruce Robert Hadley.

I am very grateful for my dad. He is probably the strongest person I know, mentally and physically. But, more than that he is a hard working, kind, a person who would do literally anything for the people he loves.

I think I got a lot of my personality from him. We are both emotional people. We feel big emotions, happy, sad, angry, etc. We aren’t middle of the road type people and we don’t try to hide how we feel.

I also learned a lot about hard work and not giving up from him, which is the best lesson I could have ever learned. If you work hard and never quit, the world is yours; that is what he taught me.

My dad was always working when I was younger, but somehow he still managed to come home and play baseball with us, or drive me to dance class. He always managed to ask us how our day was, and really care and really listen to us.

I have so many amazing memories with my Dad, so many amazing trips skiing across the country, so many weekends swimming in the pool, and going camping in New Hampshire, and bike rides to Hilliard’s to name a few.

I definitely wouldn’t be who I am without you Dad, and I love you so much. Happy Father’s Day Dad, I will love you forever!

Thank you for always being there for me, I love you!

2023, A Day In The Life Of Liz, Boston, Idaho, journalism, Reporter, Suffolk University, Twin Falls

4 YEARS LATER

elizabethjoyhadley

Dear Elizabeth, 

Today is a monumental day. 4 years ago today you graduated college with your bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism, one of the most exciting and special days in your life. 

Now, it’s been 4 years. Which is crazy, because 4 years is the amount of time you were in college. So now, you’ve been out of college for the same amount of time that you were in college. WILD. 

I am so proud of you, Elizabeth. So proud of how much you have grown and how much you have changed, and become who you were meant to be. 

4 years of being in the real world, as they call it. 

I wish I could have told you how your life would go back then, but that would have ruined the fun of it. You also probably wouldn’t have believed it. 

Here is what I wish you could’ve known though. 

LIFE IS HARD: One month after graduating college you will move across the entire country by yourself. You will start a job in a town where you know no one and nothing. You will be alone, and sad, and sometimes really upset because you gave up your entire life for this job and no one seems to understand how hard it is, and how alone you feel. 

But here is the good news: Life is hard. But you can do hard things. You can, and you will. And you won’t give up, because that’s not who you are. Embrace the hard, embrace the sad days, and then get stronger, and more independent. Recognize that life is hard, because if you do that, you can get through the days. Life sucks sometimes, it really really does, but if you have a goal and a dream, the hard days won’t get in your way. 

A PANDEMIC WILL BEGIN 9 MONTHS AFTER YOU MOVE: Ah yes, the COVID-19 Pandemic that no one was prepared for. You’ll be forced to work from home for months on end, but still required to complete your news reporting duties, and be a person that the community can trust and rely on all from your one bedroom apartment. 

Some days you will wonder how you will get through it, and when the pandemic will end, if it ever will. If you thought you felt alone and isolated at your new home and new job before the pandemic, just wait a few months. 

YOU WILL ADOPT THE CUTEST DOG: Jackson will become the best part of your life. He will need a lot of structure and routine, because he was abandoned and left for dead, which is how he ended up at the shelter. But, with practice, he will become the best dog you ever had, and sometimes the only thing you could count on to make you smile at the end of the day. 

YOU WILL ALSO MEET A GREAT GUY NAMED TREVOR: Trevor and you will start dating and you will really enjoy getting to know him, and eventually you will move in together, and then buy a house. You will laugh, smile, cry, and he will become your best friend. The person who you love with all your heart, even through the hard times, which there will be. 

YOU WILL MOVE TO WEEKEND ANCHOR AND EVENTUALLY MORNING ANCHOR: Turns out, you will really come to like living and working in Twin Falls, Idaho. And, you will work hard and tell stories that matter to this community. You will see the difference that you make in this community, and you will care so much about it and the people here. Being a journalist is so hard, but to the people that live here, the stories you tell, they mean everything. When you move to the morning show, people in the community will come to know you, and actually enjoy your bubbly personality. 

LIFE IS UNPREDICTABLE: I mean, through the COVID pandemic, losing two grandparents and a dog, working every shift possible at the station (besides overnight), working from home, working from the station, training new people, moving to a new house. Life is just messy, and it’s hard, and it’s unpredictable. But you adapt, and you move forward with the circumstances presented to you in the best way you know how. 

YOU WILL BECOME A STRONG, INDEPENDENT PERSON: When you moved away from your home, you needed people. You couldn’t make a decision for yourself without other people’s opinions, and you never said no to anything. You believed you weren’t worthy of anything, and you had to prove that you were. You never advocated for yourself and what was best for you, because you just said yes to anything and everything, because you wanted to prove that you were a good journalist, and more than that a good person. 

Elizabeth, you are so brave, and so strong, and you don’t need anyone or anything to tell you that you are worthy or good enough. Not your job, or your boyfriend, or your family, or the general public, and especially not social media. 

You are worthy and you are enough because you are you. And you will make mistakes and you will mess up and you will cry and you will have hard days. 

But none of that makes you less important. You have nothing to prove to anyone. You are the best company in the world, (besides Jackson) 

You have to have confidence in yourself and believe that it doesn’t matter what the viewers think about your looks or how you talk or how curly your hair is. 

Over the past 4 years, your life will turn upside down and back again, but at the end of the day, you will become strong, brave, and independent. 

Elizabeth, it’s been 4 years since you graduated college and if you knew all of this then, you probably never would have taken that cross country drive to move here to Idaho. 

Life is about making choices. You make them, and you stick with them, and then you decide what to do next, and you choose to make the best of what happens. 

I can’t wait to see what the next 4 years hold for you, because if I know you, Elizabeth, it will be crazy! 

Love, Elizabeth. 

2023, A Day In The Life Of Liz, Boston, Derek Hough, Grammy, Idaho, Lisa, Mother, Mother's Day, Twin Falls

Happy Mother’s Day Mom!

elizabethjoyhadley

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mom’s but especially to my mother, Lisa Joye Hadley.

Let me tell you about my mom. My mom is just the sweetest woman. She also has so much energy, and loves to go new places, try new things, and experience life! She also just loves her family so much, and is the biggest supporter of us all.

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about what it means to be a good parent. And the conclusion I have come to is to: be there. Be there when your child is having a good day, bad day, an off day, a sick day. Be there for them when they succeed but also when they fail. Be there for them for their sports games, their musicals, their dance recitals. Be there for them in the morning, and be there for them in the night.

My mom was always there. She was and still is the person who I know will always support me in my choices, and congratulate me on my accomplishments, and talk to me when I feel like I’ve failed.

A parents is a hard role to play, but I guarantee I would not be the person I am today if it wasn’t for my mother who always told me I could do whatever I put my mind to. No matter what I wanted to try, she let me try it, and she let me figure out for myself what I wanted to do and didn’t want to do.

I am very thankful for my mom. She never tried to force anything on me, she would guide me and help me decide what I wanted to do, but she never forced me to do anything, and that is so important.

I never really realized any of this until I moved across the entire country at the age of 22. I realized then that the only reason I was able to do that all on my own was because of her and my father. Because I knew that she believed in me, but I also knew that if I needed her, she would be there.

I am so thankful for my mom for letting me figure out who I am without her forcing me to be who she wanted me to be. My mom is the best, and I love her with all my heart.

There are very few people who I would fly across the country to surprise for their birthday, but she is one of them!

I can’t wait for more adventures and fun with you Mom, and I am so thankful for you for always being there, supporting me, and loving me through everything. You are the reason I am who I am, and I appreciate you more than you’ll ever know. I love you so much Mom. Happy Mother’s Day!

I can’t wait to see Derek Hough again with you, as is our tradition!

(BTW, I will write one of these for my father on Father’s Day, because he also made me who I am today. I love you too Dad.)

Also, I would like to give a shoutout to my two grandmother’s my two aunt’s and all the other Mom’s in the world who are raising the next generation to be good, kind people who can think for themselves and make this world a better place. Where would we be without Mom’s?

2023, A Day In The Life Of Liz, Idaho, Jackson, National Puppy Day, Twin Falls

Happy National Puppy Day, Jackson!

elizabethjoyhadley

I heard that today was National Puppy Day, and I can’t miss an opportunity to share about my dog Jackson.

Jackson is technically not a puppy as in he is 4 years old, but to me, he will always be my puppy!

Jackson is so sweet.

And he is so silly.

He loves a good nap!

And he loves to take walks!

He isn’t the brightest, that’s for sure, but he wouldn’t hurt a fly. He is my best friend.

I don’t like to think about where Jackson would be right now if maybe I didn’t get adopt him. I also don’t like to think about what will happen when he is no longer here.

The best thing about dogs is they live in the moment, so that is what I will do too.

I love you Jackson.

2023, A Day In The Life Of Liz, Coffee, Idaho, Jackson, My favorite things

My top 10 favorite things!

elizabethjoyhadley

Hi everyone!! So here’s a weird fact about me, I LOVE making lists. I mean, I am constantly making lists. Lists of things I need to do, lists of things I want to do, lists of books I want to read, movies I want to watch, even lists of things I want to buy. I just am always making lists.

It helps me to stay organized, and also to sort things out in my brain.

So here is a list of some of my favorite things. I was thinking I will start here then break it down into subsections of those favorite things, because why not?

So, here we go!

  1. DOGS: specifically my dog Jackson but really all dogs!
  2. TV SHOWS: I love watching shows. I am constantly watching multiple shows at once, because my mood depends on what I am wanting to watch.
  3. BEING OUTSIDE: I love being outside and feeling the sun on my face. Walking, biking, reading outside, swimming. I love being outside.
  4. READING BOOKS: When I was in college and high school I would even make lists of the books I read each year, keeping track of how many books and which ones I loved.
  5. MY FAMILY: I am convinced I have the best family in the world. No matter what, they are always there for me, and I wouldn’t be the person I am without them.
  6. MY FRIENDS: I also have the best friends in the world. I may not have that many friends, but quality over quantity in my mind.
  7. COFFEE: I don’t really need to elaborate, do I?
  8. LEARNING HOW THINGS WORK: And by that I mean, understanding why things work the way they do, the behind the scenes of things. I love listening to these watch back podcasts because it is so intriguing to me learning how different shows were made.
  9. SUNSHINE: I just love it when the sun it out. I am so much happier. It doesn’t even have to be warm, but when the sun is out, I feel joy!
  10. SKIING: I have been skiing since I was 3 and it is my favorite! I raced in high school and I still enjoy it to this day!

Well, that’s it! Those are my Top 10 favorite things!

I want to hear yours though, because I love learning about people!

Thanks for reading!

2022, A Day In The Life Of Liz, Andrea Nastri, Andrew Navaroli, Boston, Bruce, Christmas, Idaho, International Junior Miss, Jackson, journalism, Pageant, Reporter, Santa, Twin Falls

Goodbye, 2022!

elizabethjoyhadley

It’s hard to believe that 2022 is almost over! I have been thinking a lot lately how fast this year went by, and how crazy it is that it’s almost a new year!

I’ve never really been a fan of New Year’s. I hate staying up late, and I often feel sad, because I think of all the things I wanted to do that year and didn’t.

But, what I’ve learned lately is that life just keeps going, and most of life is the mundane, the boring, the day to day things, but when you look back that is sometimes the most memorable.

Here is a recap of my 2022!

January started with my two best friends! I miss them so much!

Then we celebrated Jackson’s birthday! I don’t actually know if this is his birthday since I adopted him, but let’s be real, he doesn’t know either!

February I had the best time skiing at Sun Valley. I had a day off in the middle of the week and decided to ski by myself! I felt so free!

In March, my favorite Bruce’s came to visit and we also went skiing at Sun Valley!! I love my two favorite Bruce’s!

I also turned 25 in March! We took this picture on my birthday!

In April, my mom came to visit and we had a great time shopping and doing all the things we love to do together! I love my Mom so much!

In May, I spent a lot of time outside with Jackson!! We went on lots of walks, read lots of books, and enjoyed the beautiful weather before it got too hot!

In June, I found out I was going to be competing at International Junior Miss as Miss Idaho! This was a goal I set for myself back in 2019! Just goes to show that sometimes your goals take a while to accomplish, but that doesn’t mean you should give up on it!

July was super fun! I started my new role at KMVT as the morning show co-anchor!

My grandfather also passed away in July, I miss you Papa!

In August, Trevor and I went to DisneyLand and California Adventure! I am sharing this picture because I was so proud of myself for not letting my fears stop me and I went on the Incredicoaster!

In September we celebrated Trevor’s birthday with these great friends!! I’m lucky to have so many great friends!

October was exciting! We bought a house! I love this house and it’s finally starting to feel like home!

November was so busy! I flew back to MA for one weekend to surprise my mom for her birthday!! We pulled off the surprise!!

Then, it was time for Internationals in Florida! What an amazing week with new friends and my family!

December was full of Christmas cheer!!

Now, these are just some highlights of the year. Most of my days were just full of work, taking care of my dog, cooking, cleaning, food shopping, and just doing daily things.

There were also a lot of sad days, and a lot of happy days. And right now as I’m ending this year, I am very sick.

But, I choose to look on the positive side and hope that 2023 will be a year full of accomplishing goals, growing, and happiness.

Happy 2023!

2022, A Day In The Life Of Liz, Boston, Idaho, International Junior Miss, Pageant, Uncategorized

My week at International Junior Miss!

elizabethjoyhadley

a.k.a the greatest week ever!

Hi friends!! Now that I have been home for a while, am fully unpacked and back to the real world, I can settle in and write about my week competing at International Junior Miss in Orlando, Florida!

Now, for those of you who don’t know, I have competed in pageants for a while, back in MA I competed for years before being the National American Miss Massachusetts in 2017.

When I moved to Idaho, I had set a goal back in 2019 to compete again. While it took me a few years to achieve that goal, I did and it was well worth the wait!

On November 19th I set off for Orlando, Florida with 4 suitcases, one crown box and one gown bag (it had 3 gowns in it.) I arrived Saturday night, unpacked and was excited for the week ahead!

Sunday morning was check-in! I was so excited to get the week started!

Little did we know when we took this picture, that Faith would go on to win the International Junior Miss title! A very well deserved win!

Later that night (Sunday) we had kick-off and the Neon Party! The best part about competing in pageants is always meeting all of the other girls!

On Monday, I was able to have a relaxing morning, followed by the Red Carpet Correspondent Competition and then a rehearsal later that evening! Each rehearsal and event has a different theme which is always so fun to plan the outfits out!

On Tuesday we started the day with the gift exchange, each queen brought 3 gifts, one for the outgoing International queen, one for the incoming International queen, and one for another state queen. Carrington got my gift!

Later that day, I competed in the spokesmodel competition, where I spoke about defining your own success, and how WHO you are and HOW you make other people feel is what matters most.

Tuesday was my brother’s birthday, so we had a nice dinner together that night. I was so lucky that my Mom, Dad and brother all were here this week too! We had so much fun together!

Then that night we had THE fashion event of the year!! The Ashley Rene’s and Ashley Lauren’s Under the Sea Ball!! It was so much fun seeing all the amazing outfits, and spending time with these amazing women!

Wednesday was our free day! My family and I went to Epcot! Epcot is one of my favorite parks, I just love all the countries and the different food, as well as the atmosphere!

Thursday, which was Thanksgiving was a super busy day!! I was up at 5:30 a.m. for hair and makeup! For all of the required competitions I got my hair and makeup done by Makeup and Maskara and her crew! It was the best decision I made, because not only did they do an amazing job, but they make you feel so good about yourself!! It was one big hype session in there!

Thursday morning we had interview, the first required competition of the week!

The interview was so fun, all of the judges were so nice! We had 3 minutes with each judge, there was a total of 6 judges. My favorite question was Do you have any regrets with your pageant journey? My answer, I only wish I started competing sooner.

I then had an amazing photo shoot with Imagine Studios! Check out some of these shots!

I just love these photos, it was a great addition to the pageant week!!

Later that afternoon, we had the car drawing! One lucky girl won a brand new mustang convertible. I unfortunately was not that girl.

Then we had the Thanksgiving banquet! I so admired the planning and thoughtfulness in hosting this event for more than 1,000 people! Truly amazing!

I love my family SO MUCH! They are the best part of my life!

Friday, we had our final two required competitions, formal wear and fun fashion!! Here are a few of my favorite stage shots, which I’m obsessed with!

I know it may be silly, but I was very proud of myself after this! I worked with Kailyn, my coach, for months preparing for this pageant, and I told myself I wanted to just do the best that I could do. I didn’t want to compare myself to the other girls, I didn’t want to be sad or disappointed in myself when the week was over. I just wanted to do the best for me. I can confidently say I did that, and had a ton of fun!

Saturday was the final day of the pageant! We started with the pajama rehearsal in the morning, and I was so sad that the week was almost over!

The final pageant was that afternoon!

I wish I could explain in words what it felt like with these girls. I mean this when I say that every single one of these girls is going to change the world.

I was honored to be a part of this group of girls, each one so smart, so talented, so kind, so nice, so supportive, and just so amazing. The support we all showed and continue to show for each other is what this world needs.

When we were on stage and they were announcing the top 12, of course I was a little disappointed that my name wasn’t called, who wouldn’t be. But, at the same time, I was so happy for the girls whose names did get called. I was thrilled for them!

Because pageants aren’t like other competitions, every single one of those girls could have won that crown, and I mean that. And just because your name wasn’t called doesn’t make you any less worthy than the others. We all worked so hard, we all put ourselves out there, and we all did something that most are afraid to do.

And at the end of the day, there is only one girl who walks away with that International Title, and I am so happy for her! But, what I took away from this week was friendships, memories, life lessons, confidence, and fun!

I think that unless you push yourself, and do things that are hard, and surround yourself with people who are better than you, you will never grow, and that is my ultimate goal in life, to never stop growing, and learning, and pushing myself to be the best me I can be, all while supporting everyone else!

Everyone has their time to shine, and I will be supporting the girl whose time it is, knowing that when it’s mine, she will do the same!

I am thankful, grateful and truly so so lucky that I got to experience this week. I will remember it for the rest of my life!

I was honored to win Best Personality at the final pageant!

Thank you to International Junior Miss, National American Miss, and the IAM Pageant Powerhouse for this amazing week, and for helping me become who I am.

2022, Boston, Grammy

Dear Grammy, I miss you.

elizabethjoyhadley

1 year ago today, my grandmother passed away. It was sad and kind of sudden, but she was 87 years old. She had a great life, she really did. Gail Lillian Somes Hadley was magnificent.

I think about her often. She was just such a great grandmother. My brother and I are her only grandchildren, and she loved us both so much. Whenever we went over to her house she had some home made dessert waiting for us, or a snack. She made the best peach cobbler or cookies. She loved to cook and bake and made sure no one was ever hungry when they were with her.

She also never missed a recital, baseball game, theatre performance, or any other activity we were a part of.

One year on Thanksgiving when I was little I remember getting upset about something and crying, and she came over and sat with me to comfort me and make me feel better. It’s funny how I have no recollection about what I was upset about, but I will never forget her comforting nature that day.

If we were sick, she came and sat with us so my parents could go to work. We would watch tv and she would sit in the living room with us all day, probably knitting whatever sweater she was working on at that time.

She loved our yellow lab George so much. George knew it too, always sitting by her because he knew she would slip him something under the table. Dogs are so smart.

I always knew I could talk to her about anything, I called her a lot when I moved out here to Idaho, she was just the best.

Recently when I moved away from MA, we were pen pals, writing each other letters, and of course she would include a little gift in mine, some cookies or a gift card.

My dad would go over to her house and show her my news stories that I did, or if I was anchoring he would pull that up and show her too.

I sometimes wish I could call her up now and just talk to her. Tell her about my life, although I’m sure she knows.

We would talk about my dream wedding some day, what colors I wanted and where I wanted to get married. She said she would do my hair in pretty curls like she did for my prom.

I learned a lot from her, about generosity and love and loyalty, but I learned the most important lesson from her after she was gone.

Let me tell you about it. When she passed away, my family planned a wake and a funeral for her. The wake was on Tuesday night and the funeral was on Wednesday.

Tuesday night, we were all there at the wake and when I tell you that EVERYONE she knew came, I mean EVERYONE she knew came. And they were all sharing memories and stories and jokes and it was beautiful. I mean, all these cousins, and nieces and nephews, and friends, and my parents friends, and her friends, and her sister and brother in law, and my friends, and her family, and neighbors, and her daughter’s friends and of course her husband. I could go on. And, I thought how amazing it was that all these people took time out of their life to come say goodbye to her.

It was sad, but it was also kind of amazing, because they were remembering her as this person who cared so deeply about people, and never forgot important milestones.

People were recalling Thanksgivings from years ago, and fun trips to Cape Cod, and Christmas parties, and hand made sweaters that she knit for them or their child, people were remembering her, who she was and what kind of an impact she had on their life.

I always worry that I won’t be successful, that I’m not good enough or smart enough or pretty enough, and it’s kind of sad that I had this realization at my grandmother’s funeral, but NONE of that matters.

Because Grammy was a successful nurse but I don’t think that was brought up once at the funeral. Instead what was brought up was who she was, deep into her soul. She was amazing and kind and generous and loving and caring. And THAT is what matters.

It’s sad that we wait until people are gone to tell them our favorite things about them. I hope she knows how much of an impact she had on my life, and always will.

I think she’s up in heaven playing Bridge with her friends and her sister, eating some trout (her favorite food) and laughing without being in any pain. And I know she’s hanging out with George as well. Probably going on walks with him every day.

I know I’ll see you again someday, until then, I love you, every day.