As I got older I began to appreciate that while I didn't have generic american grandma number 1, I had something better, a Grandmama! A mystical woman who always told it like it was and had an arsenal of stories so vivid, outlandish, and hilarious you knew you'd never have to suffer an awkward silence at a dinner party again. 

When I was still performing, she came to everything from band concerts to voice recitals,the Nutcracker and every play or musical I ever participated in. When she came to see Recent Tragic Events at UMass she went up to my entire cast and told them how "Mahvalous" they were and insisted that they give her their autographs. They looked at me like "Is your grandma for real?" and they laughed, but also I think they were flattered, because I had told them how Grandmama does not sugarcoat her feelings about anything for anybody, not even her granddaughter. 

Grandmama was truly larger than life and she gave me so much over the years. Here are some of my most favorites, in no particular order.

-Her unsolicited and loud opinion. 

-Grandmama gave me the good sense to nevah, evah, attempt to make New York strudel from scratch as it will take you the entire day and then your husband will be forced to flush the recipe down the toilet so you don't have to put yourself out ever again.

-If you've ever seen Grandmama's basement, you know that she believed truly in the adage "waste not, want not." I will likely never make it to her level, but I will endeavor to amass a stash large enough for a small natural disaster.

-A box of stationary or Venus razor every Chanukah, Vanilla extract and Domino sugar for my baking adventures every Halloween.

-An easter themed raffle basket she won at the bank, complete with that really adorable and coveted chick inside a half-cracked egg beanie baby. 

-Driving in Roosevelt Circle is takin yah life in yah hands!

-The Hair Off Mitten. http://www.amazon.com/Hair-Off-Mitten-remover-…/…/B001ET7LUS

-This nugget of extremely true wisdom: 
"You can have your wealth and you can lose it, you can have your health and you can get sick, but they can never ever take away your education." 

-Grandmama also taught me to always do my errands in the geographical fashion that makes the most sense so as to always save gas. Also, there is nothing wrong with going to 5 different grocery stores (in logical geographical order) in a quest for the best deal. 

-Work hard and save your money for furniture you truly love and then you'll have it forever. 

-Find a man who will remember the curio cabinets that came with your dining room set that you thought you couldn't afford and will go back to the store order them as a surprise complete with the glass figurine you admired stashed in a drawer and then definitely 100% marry that man.

-Buy clothes on sale at the end of the season and don't take the tags off that sucker til there's a stain. 

-Persistence can be truly worth it. (Fingerman Legend is that Grandmama once returned a pair of shorts bought at Kohls to Sears (not on purpose..maybe?) She got a full refund, not even store credit.)

-More recently when discussing travel Grandmama was remarking on how the only thing Europe has over America is "Old." But America is one of the most beautiful countries and has everything, mountains, ocean, canyons, desert, cities etc. 

-A smile costs nothing, but gives much.

-Mitzvahs are important. I have such clear and fond memories volunteering with Grandmama in her Santa Hat, preparing dinner for the homeless on Christmas Day.

My Grandmama was a lady to remember and so completely, unabashedly herself. I mean she truly did not care what others thought of her, marching all the while to beat of her own drummer. She was generous with her time and company. She told the best stories (even if we're not exactly sure about the factual evidence for some of them...) She was tough but she was amazing and I will always love her very much.