To my Daisy

I miss you. So much. 

I miss every holiday at your house. Everyone together, you fussing over the food and tightly wound. 

I miss spending the night on Christmas Eve with all my cousins. There were snores emitting from every room, and I couldn't sleep. You let me sleep on the floor in your room, but Grandpa's snores were far worse than those outside the door. Yet, I stayed in the room with you.  

I miss your lemon cookies and your laugh. 

I miss our time together. We had barn kittens and books and reading trees, and we were happy. I miss throwing rocks at "those nasty blackbirds" who stole the others' nests. Not that we ever scared them off. 

I miss you tucking your permed hair into a blue bandana while you worked outside. 

I miss high school, running back the lane to your house with Roy. I miss you giving him water out of your best glass pie dish. 

I miss raspberry tea with you and Grandpa. 

I miss you telling me: "A face without freckles is like a night without stars."

I miss you because now you stare at me with polite interest. You don't recognize your Sammy Jo. 

I love you, Daisy.