Happy Birthday, Gram!

2012 is a big year for birthdays in my family, with Gram, my mom, and my sister all stepping into new decades- gracefully, too, I might add. Today starts off the year of birthday shenanigans. So, I'd like to take the opportunity to say the following:

HAPPY 90th BIRTHDAY, GRAM!

I love you so very much, and I'm thinking of you all day and wishing I could be there to spend the time with you. It's not quite as easy to get to you with that big ol' ocean in the way. But we can celebrate this summer :)

Gram is my grandma from my dad's side, and unlike my mom's side of the family who are all, for the most part, conveniently bundled in one area of the globe, she lives on the East Coast. So, when I was a kid, we didn't see her quite as often, and it was more phone calls and letters and other nice ways to stay in touch. One really wonderful thing that came with my life in DC was that I was on the same side of the country as my Gram! I got spoiled, being able to visit over Thanksgivings and hoping on planes during other times of the year. She even came up to the DC area with my Uncle John and Aunt Pat for a less-than-happy occasion, but even still, it was time I otherwise wouldn't have gotten. And now I'm an ocean away again.

But I know her better now. I've sat with her and looked through family photo albums. I've gotten to hear stories of her childhood, of my dad's childhood, and of my childhood. My first visit back as an adult was jolting to me-- her house has pictures of my daddy and memories of my daddy. In the pictures, I can see my brother's resemblance to him. My dad had Gram's beautiful baby blue eyes. Spending time with Gram connects me to all of my family, and it's really something very special.

My Gram is an amazing woman. She is well traveled (I think I'm following in some of those footsteps). She has been faced with big challenges throughout life, and she shows her courage and strength with all of them. She is loving, can identify more birds from their calls than you can probably name, and can sbsolutely grow any plant (I did not inherit this green thumb-- keep your house plants away from me).

My dear Gram, I send you my wishes and love across the miles, and I hope you know that I love you- a bushel and a peck (and a hug around the neck).