I am going to write a little bit about my Grandmother Carlson, Jamsey Rae Kline tonight.

I was absolutely in love with my Grandma Carlson growing up. I was even fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with her while I was in my first years of college too. I remember I had this black and white picture I snatched from one of our family albums of her in these giant sunglasses. I slept with it under my pillow until it was crinkled and torn. Now I have one of her rings I wear on Sunday’s and this wishbone necklace. She told me it was the first diamond my grandfather (Po) gave her. Every time I put these on it’s like taking a bit of her around with me because it always makes me think of something she said or did.

My sister kind of reminds me of her now. She is kind of like Grandma Carlson to my children. You see every time you would go to my grandmother’s house she always had something for you to bake together. You always got to lick the spoon and bowl. She always let you play in the dirt mixed with the red Yazoo clay. We got so messy! My sister is so much like this to my children and they love her so much it makes my heart shine. I am so grateful for this connection that is here and somehow beyond. It is one of those lights that my Grandmother left behind and it is always there even though she is not, yet she is.