Bernis C. Munro

AUGUST 30, 1910-OCTOBER 3, 2003

Top, my grandmother's high school yearbook photo. Above, a 1999 visit to her beloved Carmel.

MEMORIES OF GRANDMA

* A weekend at Grandma and Grandpa's: Painting pictures on the basement walls of the Piedmont house for a penny a minute,  then spending the money the next day  in San Francisco. (I bought a Snoopy pencil eraser at Ghirardelli Square for 50 cents that sits on a bedroom bookshelf.)    * Being called "sweetie."    * Her cards that always began "Dearest Donald."    * The time she struck up a conversation with a perfect stranger on the subway from La Guardia Airport to Manhattan when she came with Mom, Dad and David to New York for my Columbia graduation.    * Helping search for the best cinnamon roll in Alaska.    * Writing a travel story for The Fresno Bee on how NOT to be a tourist in Carmel and using her for all my background information.    * Playing gin rummy with her and losing.    * Visiting Carmel one weekend with friends Gregg and Susan and having her come home later one night than we did.    * Opening the Monterey Herald on Saturday morning to figure out a play to see that night -- such as an interminable community theater production of "Gypsy." (She still loved it.)    * Walking around the berm with her at Hacienda Carmel.    * Watching her eat creme brulee with gusto. And chocolate. And ice cream. And Pepperidge Farm cookies. In fact, let's just skip dinner and have dessert.

I miss you, Grandma.