Hot Tea and a Scarf!

Tonight I find myself thinking about my grandma. She died on my birthday 3 years ago, shortly after my mom passed away. I think that I was in such deep grief over my mom that I never really grieved for my grandma. It was just something that happened. I mean, I knew it was going to happen, she had Alzheimer's and she was ill for a very long time. But tonight Im really really thinking about her and missing her.

My grandma was great. She was from Scotland and I have so many fond memories of her. Every year on Christmas eve we would go to her house for our family party. There was always a pretty tree, lots of laughter, a pile of presents, and fabulous food. We always had sausage rolls, apple pie, salmon spread, and of course tea. I remember that when it was warm, she would take me and my sister to the beach, where we would build sandcastles and play in the surf. Oh, and the candy!! Every two years she would go back to Scotland to visit family and friends, and she would always-always bring us back a huge bag of English and Scottish candies. Yumm-o!

I think that maybe the pain of losing her is hitting me hard right now because Im back in my home state, with my family. While visiting Washington, Im staying with my Aunt Shirley, who is my dad's sister, and my grandmas only daughter. I feel grandma everywhere here...and yet I still miss her. I want to ask my aunt or my dad where grandma is buried, because I feel like I have to visit her. No one is making me, but deep down in my soul I feel the need.

Anyways, since Im missing her so much Im trying out one of her old Scottish home remedies for my cold. Of course she made me a tea drinker, so I have a hot steamy mug of Red Rose tea with one teaspoon of sugar. But Im also wearing one of her scarves tied tightly around my neck. My aunt told me that grandma always wore this scarf when she wasnt feeling good and it supposedly made her feel better.

Im pretty sure that most home remedies are hogwash..but if my Grandma believed this worked, then I believe it too! Hot tea and a scarf-who knew?!?