Piper Gets Pierced (June 2024)

 

When each of the older three girls turned 16, Grandma took them to the mall for a ritual that involved picking out pretty earrings and getting holes punched in their earlobes, which, though it sounds barbaric (and kind of is), was a special time for them to share and a sweet memory for the girls. 

When Piper turned 16, though, Grandma had been undergoing constant treatment for leukemia, and she was frequently exhausted. We didn't get see her much because she was often too weak to come to our house with Dude, and filling up her already full house with the amount of people our family holds immediately ramped up the noise and chaos to levels that we worried might be stressful for her system at a time when she needed all the strength she had. 

She and I texted about Piper getting her ears pierced, but I was pretty sure that she wouldn't be able to be there, and I prepared Piper for that possibility. Well, the morning Piper was supposed to get her ears pierced, Grandma texted about where she and Dude should meet us in the mall. Hurrah! All of us were so happy to see her, and it was wonderful to spend some time with her. 

After Piper got her ears pierced, we walked around the mall with Grandma and Grandpa for a bit, during which time Grandma learned that not one of the younger children had ever eaten anything from Auntie Anne's. Why would they? The only reason the older girls had the experience was because Grandma had taken them to the mall when they were younger! Well, the horror of knowing her poor, sheltered grandchildren might never taste the deliciousness that is Auntie Anne's various pretzel bites and mini pretzel-wrapped hot dogs was more than The McGamma could handle. They ended up staying in the mall with us for a while, and Grandma bought the children pizza AND Auntie Anne's pretzel bites. It made me very happy that Grandma indulged the younger kids with the same sort of ridiculous, unessential, overpriced snacks the mall has to offer, because I know it made her happy to spoil them so. 

And now they aren't poor, sheltered kiddos who've never tasted Auntie Anne's pretzel bites. 

Thank you, Grandma, for all the memories you made sure these children would have with you. 💜