By Leslie Lindsay

There was a death in my family yesterday.  I don’t want to bog you all down with the details, but I will tell you that my fun, sweet and sassy grandmother passed away at the ripe ol’ age of 92.  She lived a long, happy life and made a lot of people happy, including me.

But yesterday was not just the end of Effie Katherine Branson Cox’s life, it was the beginning of some new stages in our family: my oldest daughter started 1st grade and my little one rode a 2-wheeler all by herself for the very first time (she’s only 4 1/2!).  So you see, everything comes full-circle.  Of course, I will miss my grandmother and her quirky-sense of humor, her love for animals, but you know…I can’t help but see that part of her resides in all of her grandkids and great-grandkids.

But, here’s another thing: with all of this life and death and a new school year, I can’t help but feel hopeful.  I am looking forward to starting fresh.  Because, really that is what life is all about.

And that is what is in my brain today, Thursday August 25th 2011.