So I spend two days a week at my paternal grandmother's.  I call her Nana.  Nana is eccentric, to be sure.  She is also one of the most understanding, non-judgemental people I have ever met.  She has done everything: owned a business, achieved higher education, taught Sunday and Bible school, held political office, written for a newspaper, played on a basketball team, learned an instrument, sung in choir, starred in a play (for which she also made all the costumes), and raised three amazing, successful, and completely different children.  I admire her and her opinion greatly.  Here's a taste of the wisdom that flows from my Nana:

On Youth:

"If you've got it, you might as well use it.  You won't have it forever."

On Friendship:

"How many friends do you have that you like because of how they look, or how clean their house is, or what they have?  I don't have any like that.  I like them because they're people."

On People in General:

"I've learned that if somebody is especially particular about their house, they have something they did in their past that they really regret.  Obviously, I have nothing to hide (referring to the momentary disarray of her kitchen)."

On Uniqueness:

"I say if you don't like it, you oughta let people know.  They ought not make you eat something you don't like or wear something you don't like.  They probably don't want to, so let them know.  I like when someone's picky.  At least I know what they like."

"Be yourself.  Who cares?  They don't like it, they don't have to be around you all the time."

At this point, I should probably add that this is the woman who makes sculptures out of scrap wood that she finds in her yard and decorates religiously for every holiday.  My Nana is fantastic.  She knows what she is talking about.  She has lived life to its fullest.  I want to be like that.  No regrets, no reservations, just simple, all-out living.

Love you, Nana.