She’s 85 years old and one of the most fun people I’ve ever known. She’s a red-hatter. She sings and yodels. She has oodles of friends and goes shopping often. She has a thick Mississippi accent, although she’s lived in Illinois for years upon years. She is the epitome of happiness and retirement fun.
Her name is Ruby Faye. And she is Jason’s grandmother.
Although, we don’t call her Ruby Faye. We call her “Sweetheart”. Jason’s brother gave her that name when he was little, because she often called HIM “Sweetheart” when she spoke to him. So Sweetheart it was, and Sweetheart she remains.
Through the years, she has made me feel like I am her own granddaughter, not just “Jason’s wife”. She has been generous and loving to Jason and I and our kids. Everytime we go to her house, she sends us home with something. Sometimes it’s sliced up watermelon. Sometimes it’s some cool Tupperware she thought I might like. Sometimes it’s monetary to “get something special for the kids…” But this week it was something different and really fun. It was bright, fun, some modern, some kitschy, but all beautiful. It was jewelry.
This flower is my favorite. Imagine it on a LBD (you know, “little black dress”) with heels— a la Audrey Hepburn. Love IT.
The reason this meant so much to me was because of the special relationship I have with Sweetheart. She and Grandpa Smith never had daughters, or granddaughters. They “inherited” a daughter-in-law and two granddaughters-in-law, through time. But they never made me feel like I was an in-law. Sweetheart and Grandpa welcomed me into the Smith family with open arms. Now, Sweetheart has two great-granddaughters. And I can’t wait to give this jewelry to Maggie someday–sharing stories of Sweetheart. I hope that Maggie has the chance to know her well, so someday, she can share her own story of this amazing woman.
I am already grateful that Owen has a wonderful relationship with her. He is quite happy to go to Sweetheart’s to play. And play, she does. The woman will play baseball, hide-and-seek, and dance better than most who are half her age.
She really is a jewel. I have no doubt that God knew what he was doing when he named her “Ruby”.
