Remembering special loved ones on Valentine's Day

Audrey Ray with her great-grandma "B."

It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and I’ve been thinking about people in my life who are really loving and caring. I am lucky because I have so many people in my life who are loving and caring, but one person in particular stands out to me. My great-grandma, Mary Lou Baker, or "B" as I call her.

B was born in 1927 and is 86 years old. She grew up in Akron. She was an only child and lived with her mom until her mom passed away when she was just nine years old. She was adopted through a friend of her mother’s. B had never met her new parents until they took her home after her mother’s funeral. 

I can’t imagine how she must of felt at that time. Her new parents had no other children and were wonderful to her. She lived around the block from my great-grandpa. B is five years younger than my great-grandpa and they never played together.

My great-grandfather saw her as someone who had new dresses and shoes and didn’t think he had anything in common with her. But he officially met her when she was working as a store clerk. After they met, they started dating and eventually they got married.

Family is very important to B. She has five kids, nine grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. She has pictures of everyone everywhere in her house. You can’t even see the front of the refrigerator door because it is covered with pictures of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren! She keeps everything that anyone has ever given her. I see her house as a place filled with treasures and memories.           

Whenever I visit B’s house, she greets me at the door with a smile on her face. She has lots of sweet treats like cookies, junk cereal and ice cream treats. She lets you have whatever you want. All you have to do is ask. During my visits, she talks to me. She always asks how I am doing and keeps up with everything happening in my life. Like my great-grandfather, she doesn’t have any favorites. She loves all of us the same and would do anything for any of us.

B works hard to keep everyone in the family happy. Right now, she is spending her days and nights helping to take care of my great-grandfather because he doesn’t feel well. At 86 years old, this definitely can’t be easy. She is extremely devoted to her family members. I’m sure she is tired and I want her to know how much I admire her and think the world of her. 

My dad describes her as someone who has no ego and I agree. She is such a special person and I want her to know how much she is loved on this Valentine’s Day and every day.

I hope that all of you take some time this Valentine’s Day to think of the people in your life that are special and let them know.

Audrey Ray

Sixth-grader at Bay Middle School

Read More on Musings from the Middle
Volume 6, Issue 3, Posted 10:17 AM, 02.04.2014