Mimi

We all knew it was coming.  

But it hurt anyway.  

Mimi is practically an institution in our family. She laid the bedrock of my life with her smile, her games, her cooking, her heart, and her love.  I miss her and I will look forward to the time we will be reunited.  She will hug me and kiss me and rub my back.  And she will have some sweet sentiment to share in her perfect southern accent.


From my Instagram:

I got the news last night just as the general women's broadcast was beginning. And then I couldn't concentrate on anything besides trying to make sense of how hearing that something I'd been praying for, the relief from the chains of a broken body, could still hurt so much. It is customary when someone dies, to pay tribute by extolling their virtues and strengths, and in turn glossing over their weaknesses and frailties. I love this custom. In my opinion, in life or in death this is how we should speak of others. Indeed this is the way my Mimi did it. But in her case, like few I've ever known, it will require absolutely no effort to skim over any negatives, for those who knew her, knew only goodness. Anne Marie Addison characterized the qualities of Jesus Christ. Faith, hope, knowledge, humility, virtue, patience, obedience, charity, and love. Especially love. Those are Mimi. The broadcast continued and my mind and heart were far away, and then we sang the song True to the Faith. "True to the faith that our parents have cherished,
True to the truth for which martyrs have perished,
To God’s command,
Soul, heart, and hand,
Faithful and true we will ever stand." The music pierced my heart the way only music can. And I felt with such surety that she is and always will be a part of me. She is my heritage. She is my measuring stick of faith and love. I am ever committed to loving and living as she did. For when I am more like her, I will be more like Him and that's the only way I know to honor the blessed gift of her legacy. 



Ava and I went to Kentucky for her funeral.  After she passed, all I really wanted to do was get in a big pile with all the people I love, who loved her too.

And when you get to a viewing and a funeral for someone dear to your heart, you realize just how lucky you are to have had someone in your life so worth celebrating.

She truly was a gift in the lives of so many.

The viewing was in Lexington and the funeral in Elkton.

Ava sang Be Still My Soul at the funeral and she practiced and practiced on the 3 hour drive to western Kentucky.

I love my family so, so much. They make the sweet times sweeter and the bitter times better.

We got to drive out to the Addison family farm after the funeral.  This is where my mom spent so many weekends and her summers, playing with her cousins.

Geof, Kieran, Ava and I were the last to leave town.  We spent our afternoon in one of mine and Mimi's favorite places--Henry Clay's yard.  It's right across the street from Mimi and Goodgran's old house, the house I grew up with and the one I plan to buy back when I'm a millionaire.

We ate a picnic, walked around, and took pictures.  

It was so pleasant and so beautiful. 

Just like Mimi.

They say to take the pain out of death you'd have to take the love out of life and if you ask me, that would just never be worth it.

• Anne Marie Melton was born at home on October 21, 1927 to Emma Lilian and Ellis Joseph Melton. They lived in Hopkinsville, KY. She was the third of four children. She loved her two older brothers, Joseph and Charles and her younger sister Evona Baker. She was a happy child who loved school. She attended Belmont High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society and played clarinet in the band and cello in the orchestra. Her first job was at Major Dre Drugstore in Hopkinsville, KY. Later she attended Brigham Young University. 
  In 1951, she married Jewell G. Addison in the Salt Lake Temple. They made their home in Louisville, KY, where she worked for Cochran Foil. They moved to Lexington and she took a job as the secretary to the president of General Telephone Company. Successively she worked on the Shakertown restoration project and at the University of Kentucky. In addition, she and Jewell owned a grocery store and later a restaurant, she worked concurrently as a real estate agent for over 30 years. 
  Anne was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She served cheerfully and filled many callings throughout her life including a relief society teacher at age 80. 
  Through the years, Anne and Jewell loved to play tennis, and enjoyed the outdoors with frequent visits to places like Cumberland Falls and Natural Bridge. They loved to drop in on their friends for a good visit. Their home was always a gathering spot for baby showers, church events, wedding parties, single adult activities, and holiday celebrations. She was a master of words and used her skills to lovingly demolish anyone who dared to play games like Scrabble or Upwords with her. Anne was a gifted cook. She was known to pull out a random assortment of food she had on hand and turn it into a delicious, expansive spread enjoyed by those lucky enough to sit at her table. 
  One of her greatest talents was her ability to love. It has been said, that she made everyone feel like they were the most important person in the world. Her whole life long, she nurtured those in her path who needed love, help, attention, encouragement, or service. Cont. in comments.
• She was limitless in her capacity and desire to help others. This was demonstrated frequently by situations like the time she read about a family in an accident in the newspaper, made her way to the hospital to bring home the mother and baby to rest while the father recovered in the hospital. Eventually she sent the wife back to stay with her husband and she kept the young baby, nursing it right along with her own child.
  
  Maybe more than anyone else, she loved her three children, Leslie, Ashley, and Geof. Their upbringing was blessed by her care, teaching, and devotion. She knew something about just about everything and shared it with her children. Her greatest pleasure came from seeing her children happy. 
  Her love has filled the lives of not only her children, but also her 10 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren. That’s more than 35 people raised in the surety that they were unconditionally loved by their Mimi. In her words, we were “the Cat’s meow!” And the feeling is definitely mutual.
  
  She passed away September 23, 2017 in her home in Lexington, KY. All those who knew Anne were touched by her faith, love, and kindness. And in return, she was infinitely loved by her family and many friends.