Grandma also always had time for me. I am guilty of often trying to multitask and not giving my full 100% attention to my children at times, grandma did. When grandma talked with you it was like you were the only one in the world. I remember spending time just "being" with grandma. We used to lay in bed and she had this wood paneling in her livingroom, we would lay on the pull-out couch that would sometimes be my bed and look at the designs in the wood paneling. This was much like the game of looking at the clouds to see what one can imagine, same thing with the wood grain. Grandma always had time for a lesson in the kitchen too. So many early memories encompass learning things like how to cut pie crust scraps into strips and sprinkle them with sugar and cinnamon for a tasty treat in the oven.
Grandma also always valued people over things. If she had something very fragile and precious to her, she would still allow a curious little girl to handle it, gently. My mother also garnered this trait as she too allows things that are precious or fragile to be handled. There was a great- grandmother who, story goes, had all these special treasures in a kind of curio cabinet that you could look at, but never touch. Not grandma.
Grandma has also kept up with the times, when I had my first child grandma and I got "online" about the same time and would email one and other. Didn't know any of my friends who were emailing, but grandma was not afraid of something new!
As I have grown into an adult and grandma has gotten older, she has always remained a special part of my life, and now a special part of my children's lives. She has taught me so many things and we share so many things, including a love of good books, and good recipies!
So, on this day, September 18th, I am wishing that special grandma a Happy 84th birthday. She is an amazing woman, and she will be the first one reading this post and cheering me on as a blogger, tha its just what grandmas do.
Happy Birthday Grandma!