Matriarch

My beloved Granny died this morning. She was a rock, an anchor, an inspiration for four generations. Though for several years she was not able to live independently, she nevertheless maintained her positive attitude and good humor throughout.

For those of you who didn’t know her, Granny was more than just the family matriarch after her mother passed away. She was a fixture on her street, where she had lived for over 60 years. She also worked for many years as a secretary at the Optimist Boys Home in Los Angeles. Her scrapbooks of newsletters and articles were an endless source of conversation and interest on our visits to her home, as they focused on the best that the young men had to offer.

Granny agreed wholeheartedly with the Optimist Creed, which I reproduce here:

Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Thank you, Granny. We will miss you.

May the best always be yours, may there always be light and laughter in your days, may your path lead always toward good things.