The first time I ever put on a pair of heels….red heels, I was four. They were my grandmother’s. I remember it like it was yesterday. I walked into her apartment (which was an assisted living home, run by nuns!) She had so many shoes and so many sweaters; she had outgrown her closets and drawers, so she stored the excess in her oven…thank god she didn’t cook! And if that doesn’t define how sassy she is, I don’t know what will!

I ran in, opened her shoe closet and there they were, beautiful red, patent leather heels with tiny little cut outs all over. I loved those shoes. I threw them on, and off I went, flip flopping up and down the hall sporting these fabulous heels. Who knew more than 30 years later, I would be wearing red heels everyday of my life, just like I did with her as a little girl.

My grandmother is top of mind right now…she is 96 and having a hard time. She is on a bit of a roller coaster of good days and bad days, but hopefully healing days are ahead.

See, Nannie was a dancer, she was one of the youngest toe dancers ever. She was an artist with the ability to elegantly express herself with a grand jete or a pirouette, so eloquently that you wanted to be on stage with her. Dancing is an art that defined my grandmother and that helped her family survive. She was a teacher of the trade and the founder of the military date bureau (she was the original Millionaire Matchmaker!). She was and still is quite the lady.

Nannie is a fighter – a woman who has lived for 96 wonderful years and touched thousands of lives (I feel sure she knows every person in Montgomery).

While there are so many things she has taught us, one of her quiet little lessons was to never let age define you. Nannie lost her husband at a young age, remarried and lost her second husband suddenly, she loved them dearly, but still found the will to fight to live. She has always embraced her life…and her life lines (we don’t call them wrinkles in this family). She loves herself, her style, her family…and her organ (yes, the kind you play…coming to an assisted home near you: Alley Cat, played by Nannie).

She belongs to more organizations and was president of more clubs in her 90s than I will ever be in my life, she has always kept herself young and educated. She has seen so much in her 96 years and has the stories to tell, which I will continue to share. She is my sassy grandmother that has the most amazing daughter, who I am lucky enough to call my mother, for which I am eternally grateful.

May her ups begin to outway her downs and may she find strength again to fight, but may she also find peace that she will once again walk in those amazing red heels and dance like she has never danced before. I love her and am looking forward to her being back on her feet and back to her home because she still has more stories to tell and more memories to create.

Thanks for listening…

—Carrie