Today my dear grandmother turns 93! I have always loved having our birthdays so close, for it means we get to celebrate together. This year, I am happy to say, was no different. After Mass we all headed over to Gram's for a little party. Here are the "party girls" on the couch.
My grandmother has been one of my best friends my entire life. In fact, I wrote an essay about her as part of my college application so many years ago. She has it framed and hanging on her bedroom wall and if I may, I'd like to share it with you here. Now, every word I say about her is true, though I must admit I am cringing a bit at how I describe myself. I don't exactly sound, er, humble ~ I think I remember my guidance counselor encouraging me to "sell myself," to college administrators, lol! Ah, the cluelessness innocence of youth ...
My maternal grandmother, Mildred Cecilia Riley, has perhaps affected my life more than any other person I've known. She has influenced my values, beliefs and personality while encouraging me to have confidence in myself and my aspirations.
My grandmother and I are alike in many ways. Having been born two days apart, (I was born on January 12th, she on the 14th), we are both Capricorns. Like her, I am down to earth, hardworking, organized, and yes, I admit, stubborn. Grandma is 72, yet she has the energy of a woman years younger. She makes herself a list every day and sometime between dawn and dusk she manages to get it all done.
When I was born, my parents were living in Texas, at an army base. My father was called into service and during that year, my mother and I lived with her parents in Massachusetts. I think that this is where our close relationship began. We moved into our own home when I was two, but we have always stayed close with my grandparents, visiting them after school or on weekends. Often I would look forward to spending a night over my grandparents' house. I truly consider their home my second home.
My grandmother has a way of understanding me while helping me to understand myself. I can always rely on her for help or advice. Sometimes, when I'm really feeling hurt or down, just the sound of her voice can help me clear my mind.
In this day and age when teenagers tend to drift away from their families, I see my relationship with my grandmother as even more special. I fell really sad for those who either don't have a grandparent, or choose to deny themselves the opportunity to acquire such guidance and knowledge.
I hope that I live to see a life as fulfilling as hers.
My grandmother, fondly called Millie by friends, has been a blessing not just to me and my family but to so many people through the years. I think the greatest lesson I've learned from her is to be a caretaker - of my loved ones certainly, but also, to the best of my ability, of any who are in need. I am working on that, but it is hard. It can be challenging just to take care of my own sometimes! How I marvel thinking back over the years at how much my grandmother did for so many. I have never in my life known a more generous person. How many times when I was a girl, did I accompany her to visit an eldery aunt or friend - with groceries or a meal, or to spend an hour cleaning or just having tea?
Well, today, Grama, I wish you a Very Happy Birthday and ask that God Bless You, today and always. We love you so very much. Thank you for your love, your faith and your example!
And before I go, I'd like to share a few more pictures from the party. Here are all my guys, hanging out while Mama and Damee (their name for my grandmother) open gifts.
Below you see the beautiful cake my mum baked for today: chocolate fudge with raspberries. It was as yummy as it looks (and more)! We also served good old-fashioned Brigham's ice cream, our family favorite, and freshly brewed coffee. Growing up, Grama and Grampa would always take us to the local Brigham's for lunch or a treat.
Here's Crackerjack, consulting with Damee about how many raspberries he might be able to eat. (He ate a fair few.)
Earlybird absolutely relished his cake and ice cream:
It has been such a fun day! We began it at early Mass where an RCIA candidate was introduced along with his lovely wife and young baby daughters. It literally brought tears to my eyes as Father blessed him and welcomed them all into our church. This beautiful young family can be assured of our prayers!
After the birthday party we drove home through the cold, misty weather. The thermometer says 28.5 but it just won't snow. So very odd, this January weather. We are now puttering about - Bill has the Bears-Seahawks game on, and we're counting down the minutes till the Patriots' tip-off. (Literally, we have the stove timer set. Like we'd ever forget, lol!)
Now I am off to plan lessons and fold laundry. (I keep saying that don't I? Funny how the bureau drawers aren't any fuller than they were a week ago. See here's a perfect example of where I obviously exaggerated in my comparison with my grandmother. On top of all I said about her, she is the most efficient homekeeper I have ever had the privelege to observe and learn from! I'm still learning, and trying to remember how she did it all, and did it all so seamlessly.)
And so! I hope you are enjoying your Sunday! Please, if you have a moment, offer a prayer for my grandmother, Mildred, on this special day of hers, and, one last thing ... with apologies to my west coast readers ... GO PATS!
:)
