US First Lady 1989-1992. The silver fox. A woman with fake pearls but a real heart.
A woman married for 73 years to the only man she had ever kissed. a woman when bed ridden in the hospital, holding hands with her husband, who looked like "hell" according to son Jeb Bush, but when she opened her eyes, she said. "...you are devastatingly handsome!"
Her dignity, wit and straight forwardness mixed with kindness and caring for family and beyond, to her love for literacy were all part of the accolades given. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-barbarabush/barbara-bush-remembered-for-her-dignity-and-wit-at-houston-funeral-idUSKBN1HS04S
When her granddaughters read from Proverbs 31 about their Ganny you could hear the love in their voices as their tears dropped.
Her grandsons walked out on either side of her casket as pall bearers.
In their own way each child, grand child and friend rose and called her "blessed."
What a tribute to a lady who named the name of Jesus and lived a virtuous life!
Need more proof---read the letter Jenna Bush Hager wrote to her grandmother--her Ganny.
Dearest Ganny,
When we lost
you, we lost one of the greats. You were our family's rock, the glue that held
us together. I hope you know in your final days how many people prayed for you,
how many people told me they loved you. It was like that my whole life - people
stopped me everywhere - in airports, on the street and declared their love for
you. It always felt good. We didn't mind sharing you with the world.
We called you 'the enforcer.' It was because, of
course, you were a force and you wrote the rules and your rules were simple.
Treat everyone equally, don't look down on anyone, use your voices for good,
read all the great books (oh, how I will miss sharing books with you!)
I will never
forget when Barbara and I as 7-year-olds snuck to the bowling alley and ordered
presidential peanut butter sandwiches. We couldn't wait for someone to deliver
what was sure to be the fanciest sandwich of our lives when you opened the
door, scolding us, telling us under no circumstances could we order food in the
White House again, this was not a hotel. You taught us humility and grace. You
and Gampy embodied unconditional love. At our wedding Henry and I asked you to
read because we so hoped we could emulate your love story. Your love letters
will be passed down to my girls so they know what true devotion looks like.
You always
said, humor helps. Our nights spent sitting around the dinner table in Maine
laughing at old family stories were made better because of your laugh. And
humor was necessary because of summers surrounded by 17 raucous grandkids in
Kennebunkport. Grandkids who filled the hot tub with soap, creating a giant
bubble bath. Rowdy kids who loved doing cannon balls over your head while you peacefully
swam laps.
From you
Ganny, I have learned the gift of uniqueness and authenticity: from wearing
mix-matched Keds, to your signature pearls, and snow white hair.
You taught us that humor, wit and grace are the best accessories and that
worrying too much about looks is (in your words) is boring. Words matter,
kindness matters..looks fade.
One of your
final emails to me you wrote very little. The subject line read: YOU. In the
body of the email you wrote: 'I am watching you. I love you. Ganny.'
Well, Ganny we
have spent our lives watching you. Your words inspired us, your actions an
example to follow. We watched as you held babies living with HIV to dispel the
stigma, as you championed literacy across our country, as you held Gampy's
hand.
You always
said that you were one of the luckiest women to ever live, but Gans I am filled
with gratitude because you were ours. We are the lucky ones.
You did things
on your own terms up until the very end. And now, you are reunited with your
little girl Robin. She died so young, you called her your sweet angel in
heaven. And though I never knew her, her words are still today and forever will
be a treasured part of our family.
And so
Ganny...we love more than tongue can tell.
Love, Jenna.
