Memories

I know being the youngest in my family I have the most abbreviated memories of our lost loved ones, but I thought I might as well put my two bits in. Ha ha, pun intended. Most of the things I remember about dad were feelings I felt while being around him. I think the most appropriate word for it is Love. I also remember a scag-nasty green bottle with a large cut in the nipple so I could get the mush out. I sometimes think I remember dad telling me to go lay down so I could have the bottle, but I don't know if that is just me mixing in my own dreams. I do remember looking straight up, trying to see dad's face, but the only thing I saw was his extra long skinny legs. The end. I sure have loved hearing about dad. It feels like I know him a bit better just by reading what my family shared on the Allen Clan blog. Thanks! I love you all!

Wow, while re-reading my post to make sure I didn't have any huge errors (being the teacher that I am) I realized I sound really pitiful and that's not what I was going for. So, to let you all feel jipped I thought I would share some memories about Grandpa Nielson. This man was no ordinary man. He was the kind of man that hero's are made of. He had a very deep voice that was very gentle and loving. I would always sit on his lap and listen to his chest rumble as he spoke. That man had a gift for making a little child feel special. I remember him saying to me, after mom had apologized for having to leave me with him that, "I'll baby-sit you, if you baby-sit me." This immediately got a wide smile from both of us. Never have I meet a man that was so wise and quiet at the same time. I remember waking up from nap time and seeing him sitting at the table pouring over his scriptures. He had both a deep calm about him as well as an amazing sense of humor. He told me once, after I had asked him why he eats burnt toast, that he likes it that way. Definitely an acquired taste. More likely grandma accidentally burnt it when the were first married and he didn't have the heart to tell her it was ruined, so he sucked it up and told her, "I like it that way." Boy, I love this man! Through spending time with him I feel like I understand a little better what Heavenly Father's love would feel like. Just looking at the man who would go for walks with a little girl (and his cane) to make her feel important makes me miss him. I always felt like a great lady in his presence, and I can't wait to see him and all our other loved ones again.

I also just remembered some memories of Miriam's caring ways. She would come home from school or work with candy in her hands to hand out to her annoying little siblings. I remember one particular day when she had some dum dums and some smarties and she told Ann and I, "If you're smart you can have the smarties and if you're dumb you'll pick the dum dums." Ann and I, being no dum dums would shout in unison, "Oh, we're dumb. We are dumb dumbs!" We weren't going to get stuck with the nasty smarties. I also remember her always doing our hair and buying us new clothes. She always was a motherly figure in my life and I cherish her dearly. To this day whenever I pass Nilla Wafers in the store I think of my dearest Miriam. I love her so very much!