Happy Birthday Grandma

Today is my Grandmother's 89th Birthday.... she is truly the sweetest and dearest soul on earth... and always has been.  I am very blessed to be in my 50's and still have both my parents, much less my Grandmother.

My Grandmother was only 15 years old when she married, and had my Mom 2 weeks before her 1st Anniversary.  Can you imagine it!!!???  My Grandparents are country folk, and back in her day.... you got married that young and were an Old Maid/Spinster if you weren't married by the age of 18!  AGAIN...... can you imagine it?  Grandma had a very rough and poor childhood, yet she lived her life continuously giving to others, anything and everything she had.

My Grandparents started a Security Police business and became quite successful with it and for the first time in either of their lives, they had financial security to go along with all the endless hours of hard work they dedicated to this business.  Us Grandkids used to love to go to 'The Office' and play office.  Grandma would let us play on the typewriters, adding machines, and play in the store room.  I LOVED getting a new pad of paper, pencils and pens each time we visited "The Office".

I can't remember a weekend or a week that passed without seeing or being with my Grandparents.  My Grandmother always showed up each visit with the newest toy or gadget.... she loves gadgets to this day!  I remember most that my Grandmother always talked about traveling the world and learning from her travels since she only had an 8th grade education.  And travel around the world is exactly what my Grandparents did.  Even after my Grandfather passed away, my Grandmother would trit trot off on trips all over the place with her Best Friend, Nancy, who sadly passed away this past December.  Nancy and my Grandmother were Best Friends for over 60 years!!

These days my dear sweet Grandmother is having lots of health issues and also has dementia.  It is soooo sad to see her suffer illness and forgetfulness, but she is at the age when the body just starts to shut down and wear out.  Grandma has been an inspiration to me my entire life and I continue to strive to be just like her!  She is the one who began my interest in cooking and took the time and patience to teach me how to cook.... starting out with homemade biscuits and gravy.

I hope I have my Grandmother in my life for a long time to come (as long as she isn't suffering or in pain) but..... reality is, that isn't likely and while she will be forever missed when she passes on, she will live strong in my heart forever and I will continue to try to be just like her!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BESTEST BESTEST BESTEST GRANDMA EVER!!!