October 29, 2000 – Grandma and Grandpa D’s Combined B-day Party

October 29, 2000 – Grandma and Grandpa D’s Combined B-day Party

This was my first “meet the family” session. Every one of Rob's aunts on the D's side was there and all their families. I was a little worried about how they’d like me and how they’d treat me, but I had already met Becky and Grandma D, so I wasn’t too worried about it.

I only remember one thing about this night. Grandma D yelled at Rob for not telling her sooner that we were engaged. She called him rude and asked if he had been this rude on his mission, cause if he had been, he never would have had anyone to teach because he was so rude. Rude? Not telling her we were engaged? Rudeness is telling someone off because they didn’t tell you that they were engaged. All I could think was that she needed a lesson on what real rudeness is. And then she turned to me and said, “You better keep him in line.” And she walked off. I was appalled and confused. Did we know the same Rob Thacker? The kindest, gentlest, least rude person in the world? Rob just said some line about how that’s just how Grandma D is and I wondered how people put up with her.

Since then we’ve become friends, her and I. It took a little patience on both our parts, a little understanding on my part to be tolerant, and a little understanding on her part to not push the line. I let her know that if she scratched, I would bite and I would win. I didn’t do anything rude, I just don’t put up with her telling off the people I love. It also took a lot of prayer and service on my part. I needed a softer heart to see how good and kind and wonderful Grandma D is. She has a heart of gold.

written Spring 2006