Deb Graham's Blog: Cruise Addict's Wife
January 22, 2016
Sharpshooter
My dear old friend passed away yesterday, at the age of 96. I guess I should be grieving, but it's hard to mourn a life lived as thoroughly as Ruby lived hers.
I'm thinking about the paintball episode. Ruby, Carla, and I had a quilt project going; in the space of three years, we made 1006 baby quilts and donated them to Project Linus. Great group, by the way; they believe, as I, that any child dealing with illness or loss will cope better wrapped in a warm soft blanket of their very own.
One day, about ten years ago, we three sat in my home, stitching, talking, being together.
My teenaged sons came in, laughing after a round of paintball in the woods. Ruby had never seen a paintball gun. Interested, she asked if she might give it a try. Smirking, the boys agreed. One took her arm --he's been taught respect-- as we all made our way to the back yard, where the boys set up a target.
Rube took the paintball gun, and after a quick explanation of how to shoot, took aim. And hit TWELVE bull's eyes in a matter of seconds.
I can still see the shock on my sons' faces, as their respect for this wobbly old lady soared.
Turns out, one of Ruby's childhood chores was keeping down the population of rats on the irrigation ditched on her family's farm.
You can't tell by looking, can you?
I'm thinking about the paintball episode. Ruby, Carla, and I had a quilt project going; in the space of three years, we made 1006 baby quilts and donated them to Project Linus. Great group, by the way; they believe, as I, that any child dealing with illness or loss will cope better wrapped in a warm soft blanket of their very own.
One day, about ten years ago, we three sat in my home, stitching, talking, being together.
My teenaged sons came in, laughing after a round of paintball in the woods. Ruby had never seen a paintball gun. Interested, she asked if she might give it a try. Smirking, the boys agreed. One took her arm --he's been taught respect-- as we all made our way to the back yard, where the boys set up a target.
Rube took the paintball gun, and after a quick explanation of how to shoot, took aim. And hit TWELVE bull's eyes in a matter of seconds.
I can still see the shock on my sons' faces, as their respect for this wobbly old lady soared.
Turns out, one of Ruby's childhood chores was keeping down the population of rats on the irrigation ditched on her family's farm.
You can't tell by looking, can you?
