It was the late 80s. I was five. Fall was here and the nights were getting shorter. The smell of the air told me hunting season was near. That meant more weekends with two of my favorite people in the entire world. I was blessed with two sets of incredible grandparents, which you have heard about the Liddicks. Now let me tell you about my Perry grandparents.

My pap, Dwain Perry, always had a smile on his face. He was proud to be apart of the Southside Lions Club, loved Penn State, and enjoyed driving around in his white Lincoln Towncar tapping his finger on the steering wheel listening to Frank Sinatra. My grammy, Margret Perry, loved everyone she met. Her hugs were seriously the best. She enjoyed collecting Precious Moments, spending time with her grandkids, and being the best wife she could to my pap.

My mom worked third shift at the hospital and had to work some weekends, so I was always with my dad while mom slept or had to go to work. Every weekend we always stopped in at gram and paps. I usually could sweet talk my dad into letting me stay with gram for the day. Him and pap would go out and do manly things. At five years old, that’s what I thought it was. I didn’t care if they drove to California and back, the more time with gram the better. We would walk to the Dollar General in Southside so I could get some fake nails, we would play rummy for hours, and she would soak my feet in oatmeal. She literally did anything under the sun for me. Pap would take us to the grocery store to let my brother and I pick out cereal and snacks if we slept over. I still remember going to Bilo with him. He spoiled us! So weekends there were something special, and so many wonderful memories from when I was a child.

Dad was off to the cabin to go hunting, and mom worked, so that meant I got to sleep over at gram and paps. Ahhh, sweet days of playing board games, making cupcakes just to eat the batter, and could pick what I wanted for dinner. Pap always got a hoot out of gram and I on spaghetti night. He got a kick out of us a lot, my whole life we were always a hoot together. I always loved spaghetti and meatballs or her chicken and stuffing casserole. They were my favorites! But spaghetti night was always extra fun because gram and I had spaghetti races. We would each get a piece of spaghetti and see who could slurp it the fastest. It was the best. Even in my 20’s we still did this! I never wanted the weekends to end. This weekend, when dad was hunting, was one I’ll never forget. I can still see dad pulling up with his old blue jeep. The one with the horn issue! (Remember that story?) Dad was back. I knew what that meant! He got a deer! Gram and I put on our coats and outside we went. There was this trophy buck in the bed of his Jeep. He was huge and I was so proud of my dad. I think it is a day that both dad and I will always remember. He got to hunt with his dad, and all weekend it was just gram and I. It was pretty special. Grandparents are special. If you are blessed and lucky enough to have grandparents, spend time with them. Cherish time with them. Make memories. I’d give anything to just have one more day with both my paps and my gram who are now in heaven. I think about them all so much and I am so grateful for the memories that both of my grandparents blessed me with. This meal still makes me think of her.

Gram’s Chicken and Stuffing Casserole

• 3 boneless chicken breast cut into strips and seasoned
• 1 – 6oz box of Stove Top Chicken Stuffing Mix
• 3/4 cups of hot water
• 1 bag of frozen mixed veggies
• 1 can of cream of chicken soup
• 1/2 cup of sour cream
– Place seasoned chicken in a row in a 9 by 12 casserole dish.
– Mix sour cream and soup together, then add the veggies. Mix well.
– Top that on top of your chicken. Then add the hot tap water to your filling and place on top of your casserole. Bake at 350 for an hour.
– *And I have to warn you, while cooking, your house will smell like Thanksgiving! Mmmmm!