Happy Birthday, GG

Thursday is my grandmother's eighty-ninth birthday.  She is a very special lady.  My oldest daughter could not say great grandma so she is known as GG now. 

I loved Sunday dinners at GG's house when I was little.  Turkeys, roasts, and ham were the staples but, once in a while, we were treated to Irish potato pancakes.  Holiday dinners always ended with pies and thin mints.  We also always had butter rolls from the local bakery.  As I got older, I realized that the trick to getting the best butter roll was to help in the kitchen.  While you were helping, you could inspect all of the rolls and find the ones with the most butter on the bottom. 

I remember fondly our summer days being spent at GG's beach house.  Sitting on the porch, walking to the beach at any time of day, taking outside showers, building card houses and playing Parcheesi were all the best parts of those lazy summer days.  Waking up to the sound of birds walking over the roof of the beach cottage while hearing the ocean waves crashing against the shore are sounds I can still hear with a smile on my face.

GG was the one to come and take care of me when I was home sick from school.  I remember her making me scrambled eggs and crushed ice each time I was sick.  She would spend the day crushing the ice with the back of the wooden spoon.  She always made sure my raccoon slippers were right next to the couch waiting for my cold feet.

My grandparents were the ones who attended every event, babysat when my parents worked two jobs, took us out to restaurants and traveled with us to Florida.  My grandparents were two peas in a pod...always bickering but always loving and close together.  GG lost my grandfather 9 years ago.  My oldest daughter was born a month early and I know it was so that my grandfather could meet his first great grandchild.  He died one month later on my actual due date.

We are often busy and don't get to spend as much time with GG as before.  My daughters adore GG as much as I do.  She has a special place in our hearts.   Happy Birthday, GG!  We love you!