Life As Nick Starr

My great grandmother passed away days after she turned 96 years old back in December. I was able to see her a few months before she passed, and even attended her 95th birthday celebration, which was quite the event at the clubhouse where she was living at the time.

I remember going to her house in Winter Haven as a young child. She would always hide a brown paper bag of candy for us, typically in the closet, and we would get it just before we left her house. As long as I can remember she had a pool, and we would love to go swimming with her. She would wear a shower cap, or whatever it is called.

I remember she would always send us a $2 bill for our birthday or Christmas.

I remember my great grandfather, her husband, only barely. I can remember the smell of his cigars to this day.

The first real memory I have of her, is right after our visit to Disney World. I was 4 years old, and I can remember being exhausted after a long day at the park and going over to her house late in the night to sleep.

This weekend a celebration of her life will take place during a memorial service in her honor. She will be dearly missed.