Last Sunday night, at about 10pm Eastern time, my grandma died.

She was in her 90s, had suffered from Alzheimer's for years, and she passed in her sleep. Everyone who knew her agreed it was for the best. But that didn't keep me from crying when I heard.

Grandma taught me several important things that I have since passed down to my children and expect (unless my girls beat me to it) to pass down to my grandchildren as well.

• When you come to a red light, you must say "Hocus pocus dominocus, tee tie touch; acabaca soda cracka, acabaca boo. In comes Uncles Sam and out ... goes ... YOU!" to make it turn green.
• Names can be easily ridiculed in the following very specific way: "Dug te-bug tee-elago slug; tee-legged, toe-legged, bow-legged Dug!" (Italicized words to be replaced with the appropriate name or rhyme.)
• Two songs that work very well for when you're being dried off after your bath are I Love You (a Bushel and a Peck) and Do Your Ears Hang Low?
• Coffee and soup should be served HOT. Humor, served DRY.
• There is almost nothing better in the world than playing card games with your family ... and beating them.
• The only thing that is better is dipping Graham crackers into your milk until they're just soggy enough to still hold together on the way to your mouth.

I never knew my grandma that well as an adult. I know some of her history from what my mom has told me. I remember her house pretty well. I loved her as a grandson, and enjoyed being around her even as a teen when I barely tolerated most adults. But I don't know what she might have wanted to be remembered for. Still, I think she'd be happy knowing that my girls know how to dip Graham crackers and that I think of her when I sing to them.