We had moved from Cairo to Mt. Vernon, Illinois, away from my grandmother when I was eight years old. I missed her terribly. I was told I was her favorite grandchild; she was my favorite "Granny." She was my Father's mother.
Two years later my mother and father separated and they were soon divorced. I felt as if my world was falling apart. My heart ached for that part of me that was slipping away. Mother must have sensed my longing, for she would take my little brother and me back to visit my Granny on occasions, even after the divorce.
I was always aware Granny loved us. It was something you could feel with your heart, even when your world was turned upside down.
She didn't live in a fancy house or have expensive things, but I never noticed; I just knew she loved me and I loved her back.
We had lived, for a time, next door to her and grandpa in a duplex（二倍的，双重的） while my father was away during World War II.
Granny had never had very much in the way of money or material things. But it was the little things she gave me that had always mattered. Things like letting me dip my fingers in the sugar bowl, which was always sitting on her table or the coffee she let me sip from her cup. She allowed me to sit on top of her kitchen table as I partook of those privileges.
Granny took the time to explain the function of her weather vane, hanging on the wall, which predicted the upcoming weather. How that little wooden boy and girl knew what door to come out of, when it was going to rain, amazed me. But Granny understood.
She also had a vinegar cruet that sat high on a shelf that was beautiful, in my eyes; I asked if I could have it someday. It was given to me in a box after her funeral. She remembered; love is like that.
I used to spend a lot of time with Granny when we lived in Cairo, next door to her and grandpa, in the duplex. But times and things had changed. Grandpa had died; we lived a hundred miles away, and dad, her youngest son, my daddy, no longer lived with us. I didn't get to see dad much, and I don't know if Granny got to see him very often either. But, he was her son, and I knew she loved him. Love is like that; it can see past the pain.
Though she didn't have much, neither did we, but she did something for my brother, Tommie and me. I will always remember; she saved her pennies in a glass jar. I am sure Granny could have used those pennies herself but she saved them to give us when we came to visit. Because I was the oldest I was in charge of dividing the pennies equally between my brother and me.
"One for you, one for me," I would repeat until the jar was empty.
I don't remember how much we collected on our visits, nor was the amount
Those memories, of when I was a child, still give me warm fuzzy（贺词，好话） feelings on days that I need them. A Granny's love stays with a grandchild, down through the years, even when that child becomes a grandma herself. I often wonder, after all those years, when I am lucky enough to find a penny lying on the ground somewhere, if it could possible be Granny tossing me pennies from heaven.
相关单词：divorce
divorce解释：n.离婚；分离；vi.离婚；vt.离婚；脱离
divorce例句：
Did he divorce his wife or did she divorce him?是他要和妻子离婚，还是妻子要和他离婚？
None of us like the divorce of word and deed.我们都不喜欢言行不一。
相关单词：divorced
divorced解释：adj.离婚的；分开的；不相干的；脱离的v.与…离婚(divorce的过去式和过去分词)；分离；与某人离婚，判某人离婚
divorced例句：
Apparently they are getting divorced soon. 看样子，他们很快就要离婚。
Many divorced men remarry and have second families. 许多离婚的男子再婚组成了新的家庭。
相关单词：longing
longing解释：n.（for）渴望
longing例句：
Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。
相关单词：occasions
occasions解释：n.机会( occasion的名词复数 )；时刻；原因；需要
occasions例句：
The prosecution stated that intercourse had occurred on several occasions. 控诉方称发生过数次性交。
He has been late on numerous occasions. 他已经迟到过无数次了。
相关单词：fancy
fancy解释：n.想像力，幻想；喜好，爱；adj.想像的，时髦的，华丽装饰的，奢侈的；技巧的；vt.想象，自认为，喜好
fancy例句：
He seemed to have taken quite a fancy to her.他似乎相当喜欢她。
I have a fancy that it's going to rain.我想大概要下雨。
相关单词：sip
sip解释：v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量
sip例句：
She took a sip of the cocktail.她啜饮一口鸡尾酒。
Elizabeth took a sip of the hot coffee.伊丽莎白呷了一口热咖啡。
相关单词：privileges
privileges解释：n.特权( privilege的名词复数 )；（因财富和社会地位而仅有部分人享有的）权益；免责特权；特殊荣幸
privileges例句：
They are entitled to enjoy many advantages and privileges. 他们有资格享有许多优惠和特权。 来自《简明英汉词典》
It is not allowed to use one's power to seek privileges. 不允许把职权变成特权。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
相关单词：amazed
amazed解释：adj.吃惊的，惊奇的v.使大为吃惊，使惊奇( amaze的过去式和过去分词 )
amazed例句：
Just the size of the place amazed her. 仅仅地方之大就使她十分惊奇。
I was amazed at her knowledge of French literature. 她的法国文学知识之丰富使我大为惊奇。
相关单词：tossing
tossing解释：v.（轻轻或漫不经心地）扔( toss的现在分词 )；（使）摇荡；摇匀；（为…）掷硬币决定
tossing例句：
Poor Joan has been tossing around all night with that fever. 可怜的琼因发烧而一整夜辗转不能入睡。 来自《简明英汉词典》
The two boys agreed to decide the matter by tossing a coin. 这两个孩子同意用掷硬币的方法来决定这件事。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
