I miss my Gma!

Some of you may know that we lost our Gma Sis over a month ago now.  It was hard on me losing Gma.  I didn't take it very well and I sincerely thank my cousin Kelly for helping me hold it together.  Now being a Simonsen which means I'm a cold blooded Dane at heart, it's not easy to openly share personal stuff...  Yes that's right...  Don't expect any personal displays of affection....  no hugs and kisses in public from a Dane!  But Gma was important enough to me to want to share this with you. 
I feel Gma was extremely influential over all of her grand children.  I know she was extremely influential over me.  But I also feel because she was so incredibly diverse, she impacted all of us in very different ways.  For me, I was lucky enough to grow up with a Gma who was an artist, a photographer, a stamp collector, a coin collector, a bird watcher, a bug collector, a family historian, and on and on...  It's hard to live up to all of that!  I also know that Gma gave me my appreciation for horses, big slobbery dogs, and a good book.  I find myself now doing little things that Gma always did.  My spouse jokingly chastises me and calls me "Gma Sis" when he catches me sneaking leftovers to the animals,  keeping that little scrap of paper because I like what is written on it, or hoarding cardboard boxes....  (you never know when you'll need a good box!)  Secretly I love it when Mike compares me to Gma Sis.  I'm proud to be compared to her!  But don't tell him that.  :-)
I think for me, Gma encouraged me most to be an individual.  Be unique and interesting!  Don't be mundane.  Do something different with your life no matter how strange other people think you or your interests are.  And then be proud of who you are!  Cherish who you are and work at it.  Be tough and don't accept or tolerate incompetence. 
So people, in memory of Gma Sis...  Here is my advice to you...  Start living your life whatever that means to you!  Get that bucket list established no matter how strange they sound and then start checking them off!  That's my goal.  And when people say that's strange, why are you pursuing that, you can say because I want Gma to be proud of me!
So in closing, here's a picture of Gma and how I will remember her.  She was so interesting, beautiful, smart, and tough.  I'll never measure up to her....  I miss you Gma!