Granny Pauline (aka Gwanny Pauween)

Most of you have heard about Pauline, my angel neighbor who has taken care of me and my boys for the past 2+ years. A couple weeks ago, I received the saddest news from Pauline that she would be moving to Tennessee. On Saturday, the moving vans came and Pauline moved on to her new home. I bawled.



A few things that I will miss (well, maybe not #2) and will never forget (definitely #2) about Pauline...


1. Pauline the Tough Totsy: Pauline may be 78, but she sure is a spry little chick. In fact, the other day we were out in the backyard with the boys and I mentioned to her that I would love to tear down the ugly (really ugly) green shed in our backyard sometime this spring. She said, "Oh really? Well, that shouldn't be too hard to do at all." Next thing I know there's an old grandma walking across the street - a crowbar on one hand and a hammer in the other. Pauline spent the next couple hours hammering away and helping us tear down our shed. Pauline is SO tough. She is the youngest 78 year-old I know.

2. The "No Boundaries" Pauline: Pauline's from the days when you didn't knock; you just helped yourself right in. Well, old habits die hard. Pauline would walk in at the most inconvenient times. The most memorable?

• I was using the restroom; bathroom door is wide open. I hear a "Hello?" and footsteps coming toward me. I jump up mid-poop just in time to slam the door shut before she reaches me. She proceeds with an "oh, sorry, your busy..." but then continues to stand outside the door talking to me until I finished. If you know me well, you know that my abilities to relieve myself only reside within a small window of opportunity. Well, unfortunately for me, the window was shut quite abruptly that day.

• One morning, Jeremy had just gotten home from work post-call. At 7:30am, we hear Pauline help herself through our front door. She walks through the living room, through the hall and stops at our bedroom door. Thankfully, we were both still dressed and hadn't been doing anything (yet). Her reply is "Oh! I'm sorry..." but rather than graciously leave, she stands there and rattles on for the next 10 or 15 minutes about her last eye appointment. Moment killed.


• Just a couple weeks ago, I had the shower running (bathroom door shut this time) and I was standing at the vanity in all of my bare-naked glory plucking my eyebrows. Without knocking of course, here comes Pauline to put my towels away. She quickly apologizes for barging in; however, 5 minutes later when she knows I'm safely in the the shower, she comes back into the bathroom yelling from the other side of the shower curtain "Don't mind me, just putting the towels away." No no, Pauline, don't mind me.

These examples don't include the many times she walked in on my houseguests in their robes or underwear, or the countless times she walked in on me while breast pumping, exposed from the waist up and suckers attached like the dairy cow that I was. I will miss Pauline dearly, but I guess now I can walk through my house in my bare-nakedness and not worry about someone walking in on me. :-)

3. Pauline, My Personal Launderer: If you're a mom, then oh, you know how the laundry piles! I LOVED it that Pauline did my laundry. Yes, she washed it, she dried it, she folded it and put it away. Nevermind that she ruined a $200 beautiful silk skirt of mine. Laundry is something I despise and I was always forever grateful for her laundering services.

4. The ever-dependable Pauline: I could count on Pauline for ANYTHING. Words cannot express how grateful I am for the many little favors she did for me. An emergency blowout and I needed to quickly run to the store for more diapers; me sick with the flu and couldn't even raise my left eyebrow; too much whining and crying and I just needed a break. Whatever the need, it was always, "I'll be right over." And she was in like 5 seconds.

5. Pauline the Loving Granny: She loves Matthew and Jordan like they're her own grandchildren. In fact, Pauline has framed photos of the boys hanging on her wall among pictures of her own grandchildren. It was so wonderful to leave my little guys with someone who I know truly loved them.

The boys and I already miss Pauline and can't wait to see her again. Thank you, Pauline, for all that you have done for us!