How the hell did this happen so fast? She was supposed to be around long enough for Evie to remember her. She was supposed to show Evie the greatness of thrift stores and how to act like the world was at her feet. She was supposed to teach her how to tell if a pie crust was handmade but not how to actually make it because we are supposed to be served the best, not know how to make it ourselves.

She was supposed to be around so Evie could see how strong she was. 

She was the strongest person I knew. She expected to be treated a certain way and she was. She taught me not to take shit from anyone. She made sure I was proud of how well I filled out a pair of jeans and what good dessert tasted like. She showed me it was not only possible but to be expected that a wife was separate from her husband, even after 50 years of marriage. 

She was independent and proud and full of life. 

And now she’s gone.