Gimimmie

"Assume Positive Intent" - This is latest rhetoric and approach being touted by my company's Human Capital department. The idea is that all company encounters should be approached with the idea that we're looking at the best in everyone and not attempting to spotlight their errors in a 'gotcha' moment, intentional or otherwise. What is interesting to me about this is that this is a multi-billion dollar company, spending a respective amount of cash to 'remind' us all of this most basic of human precepts, optimism. Two things strike me in this moment: 1) It is a sad commentary on our current state that we have to be 'remind' anyone to think the best of others and 2) No one, EVER had to 'assume' anything whatsoever about my grandmother's positive intent. This was no more refreshingly clear than this past week at her funeral.

I know, everyone is shed in a positive light at their funeral. I am not too close and biased that I've forgotten this, but while this may be true, not every sizable church is filled over capacity with no more standing room remaining, except the middle aisle and altar, at 2:00 on a Thursday afternoon. Not every funeral has multiple area pastors, from three different churches other than Gimimmie's, lining up and volunteering to speak and eulogize her. Not every funeral has these same area pastors breaking down at the podium, wrought with tears of celebration and remembrance, all three, grown men with extensive grief experience that comes standard with the position.

As Jennifer, the Girls and I began our return trip back to Greensboro, we finally escaped the haze of smoke from the local forest fire there and headed into clean, clear air. Simultaneously, something else became crystal clear to me. We live in an age of 'me' with blogs like the one you're reading, social networking sites and the like, programs and sites that put a premium on collection of 'friends' and items, just as much as we, in the non-digital world, strive to accumulate material positions to highlight and draw attention to all things 'me.' I see now why it may be difficult to 'assume positive intent' when all we see is people thinking of themselves, why we may need to be reminded of it when the end for many trumps the means.

The paradox that struck me left an impression of hope. Gimimmie was as humble as they come, always serving others before herself. I'm not sure she ever owned designer label clothing and her mobile home, that she lived in for decades was, I'm sure, far from what she and Pappy could have built or bought had they impressions or 'keeping up with the Jones' in mind. Those that strive to do more for others than themselves, who live with a humility, and always assume the best in any situation are always the hardest to lose, Edna Earle Hassell Creef being among them. It now makes sense why my grandmother's funeral was filled beyond capacity. It was never about her, always others. It only makes sense that, despite her and Pappy's lack of economic or political status, so many returned to demonstrate their gratitude on Thursday at 2:00.

It saddens me deeply that my daughters will never remember meeting her and also that Gimimmie was not able to see them a final time before passing, so much so that it brings me to tears as I type this. She was a woman great for all the right reasons, not for what she had accomplished or had but for what she gave and helped others accomplish. We had planned on visiting on Father's Day weekend but didn't so we could 'catch up' around the house that weekend instead. Father's Day was the day before she passed and Gimmie had expressed to so many how she wanted to see her twin, great grand-daughters again. Some say we should never have regrets but I will regret this forever.

We will love you forever Gimimmie. You were a great woman and we were blessed and rich to call you our grandmother.