Gramma Knows Best!

As a kid, all I wanted to do was play baseball and become a professional baseball player. When I reached middle school, this dream had grown with me. I remember telling my grandmother, “Gramma, I want to be a pro. I’m gonna get drafted straight outta high school and start playing in the minor leagues.” 

She looked at me lovingly and replied calmly, “That’s a wonderful goal, sweetie, but you have to make me one promise. You have to go to college first.”

I looked at her perplexed and responded, “But Gramma, I wanna get into the minor leagues as soon as possible, so I have a better shot at makin’ it to the big leagues.”

Again, looking at me patiently, she said softly, “And I’m sure you will…Right after you graduate from college. You know how important doing well in school and going to college is.”

As time went on, I relented. I began to alter my plans. I adored my grandmother and knew that everything she instructed me to do was because she genuinely wanted the best for me. Soon, I began telling her, “Gramma, I am gonna go to college and play baseball while I’m there. Then, I’ll start playing in the minor leagues when I graduate!”

She’d say, with an approving smile, “Now that sounds like a great plan, my dear.”

Needless to say, I never made it to the major leagues. In fact, I never even played baseball after high school. I was an average fielder and barely could hit my weight. But I did attend and graduate from college. 

As a thank you to my grandmother and all other influential individuals out there who guide us on our academic journeys, I have created the Cleo Marie Memorial Scholarships, which serve as the cornerstone of Gramma’s Jam.